Lionel Messi etched his name further into World Cup history on Tuesday, scoring a spectacular hat-trick to lead defending champions Argentina to a dominant 3-0 victory over Algeria.
Playing at the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, the Argentina captain opened his team’s Group J campaign in masterclass fashion. With his three goals, Messi reached 16 career World Cup goals, matching the all-time men's record held by Germany's Miroslav Klose.
The match was a night of profound milestones for the global icon, who turns 39 later this month. Marking his 200th international appearance making him the first South American man to reach the milestone Messi also became the first football player in history to compete in six different World Cups.
Against an Algerian side making their first World Cup appearance since 2014, Argentina controlled the tempo from the opening whistle.
Messi began his scoring spree in the 17th minute with a signature strike from the edge of the penalty area tying Brazil's Rivellino for the most goals from outside the box (5) in the last 60 years. He doubled the lead with a comfortable tap-in on the hour mark. Finally, in the 76th minute, he completed his first-ever World Cup hat-trick with a precise shot into the bottom corner of the net.
A Historic Night of Records
Beyond equalling Klose's legendary tally, Messi’s performance sent multiple historic records tumbling:
Oldest Hat-Trick: At 38 years and 357 days old, Messi broke Cristiano Ronaldo's record (33 years, 130 days) to become the oldest player to score a hat-trick at a World Cup.
Most Goal Contributions: With 16 goals and 8 assists (24 total involvements), Messi officially passed Pelé (21) for the most all-time goal contributions in the tournament's history.
Scoring Streak: He became the first Argentine to score in five consecutive World Cup matches, a run dating back to the 2022 tournament.
As Argentina seeks to become the first nation to successfully defend a World Cup title since Brazil in 1962, their captain's flawless performance sends a clear message. Even in his sixth tournament, Lionel Messi remains the team's driving force.
