Lionel Messi delivered one of the most memorable performances of his international career as Argentina opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a 3-0 victory over Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on Tuesday. The 38-year-old became the first men's footballer to appear in six FIFA World Cups, made his 200th international appearance for Argentina, broke Paolo Maldini's long-standing record for consecutive World Cup matches and then crowned the occasion with the first World Cup hat-trick of his career.
The treble took Messi to 16 World Cup goals, drawing him level with Miroslav Klose as the leading scorer in the history of the men's tournament.
Messi's first goal arrived in the 17th minute and was worthy of the occasion. Picking up the ball in midfield, the Argentina captain drove forward before unleashing a powerful left-footed strike from distance. The effort brushed the fingertips of goalkeeper Luca Zidane before flying into the top corner.
Here's a look at Messi's stunning strike that put Argentina ahead against Algeria.
His second came shortly after the hour mark. After initiating the move with a pass to Nico Gonzalez, Messi continued his run into the box. Alexis Mac Allister's shot was parried by Zidane, but the rebound fell kindly to the Argentine captain, who reacted quickest to tap home from close range.
ALSO READ | Kylian Mbappe Overtakes Olivier Giroud To Become France's Highest Goalscorer With World Cup 2026 Brace
The hat-trick was completed in the 76th minute through a move that showcased the technical quality that has defined his career. Messi combined with Gonzalez on the edge of the area, continued his run into space and received the return pass before firing a powerful curled finish into the far bottom corner to seal Argentina's victory.
The triple strike lifted Messi to 16 in World Cup competition, seeing him draw level with Klose's long-standing record set during the 2014 tournament. He moved clear of Brazil great Ronaldo on 15 goals and further ahead of Gerd Muller and Kylian Mbappe, who share fourth place on 14.
Earlier in the day, Mbappe had strengthened his own World Cup legacy with a brace in France's 3-1 win over Senegal. The 27-year-old had moved past Messi to sit joint-third with Muller on 14 World Cup goals. Hours later, however, Messi produced his first World Cup hat-trick to overtake both players and join Klose at the summit.
The goals also brought a host of additional milestones. Messi became only the second player after Cristiano Ronaldo to score in five different World Cups and extended his record tally of World Cup goal contributions to 24, four more than Pele's 20. By finding the net against Algeria, at 38 years and 357 days old, he also became the third-oldest player to score in FIFA World Cup history, behind only Roger Milla and Pepe.
Simply taking the field had already secured several pieces of history. Messi became the first male player to feature in six World Cups, surpassing the previous mark of five tournaments. He also made his 24th consecutive World Cup appearance, breaking Maldini's record of 23. Messi also became only the third player in men's international football to reach 200 appearances, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa in an exclusive club.
The hat-trick carried another layer of symbolism. Messi first scored at a World Cup against Serbia and Montenegro on June 16, 2006, as an 18-year-old. Exactly 20 years later, on June 16, 2026, he became both Argentina's youngest and oldest World Cup goalscorer, adding yet another remarkable chapter to a career that continues to redefine football's record books.
Here's a look at the leading goalscorers in World Cup history:
Lionel Messi's first FIFA World Cup hat-trick saw him draw level with Miroslav Klose atop the tournament's all-time scoring charts.
Photo Credit: NDTV Profit
ALSO READ | Iraq vs Norway Highlights: Haaland Marks World Cup Debut With Double In 4-1 Victory
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.