In a historic achievement, Lionel Messi has become the oldest player to score a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup match. At 38 years and 357 days, the Argentine legend surpassed his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who held the previous record set at the 2018 World Cup at age 33. Messi's feat came during Argentina's opening match of the 2026 tournament, a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria.
Messi's Milestone Performance
Playing in his 200th appearance for Argentina, Messi delivered a masterclass with three different types of goals. His first goal in the 17th minute came from a powerful long-range strike after a quick free-kick from Rodrigo De Paul. The second was a close-range finish following a rebound from Mac Allister's effort. He completed the hat-trick in the 76th minute with a composed curling finish after initiating the move himself with a mazy run.
Record-Breaking Achievements
With this hat-trick, Messi not only became the oldest player to score a brace and a hat-trick in men's World Cup history but also tied with Germany's Miroslav Klose for the most goals in World Cup history, with 16 goals. He surpassed Brazil's Ronaldo (15 goals), as well as Germany's Gerd Muller and France's Kylian Mbappe, who both have 14 goals. Notably, Mbappe had earlier equaled Muller's tally with a brace in France's 3-1 win over Senegal earlier the same day.
A Poignant Anniversary
The hat-trick came exactly 20 years after Messi's first World Cup goal in 2006, which he scored in Argentina's 6-0 win over Serbia. This added a historic milestone to his landmark performance, underscoring his enduring brilliance on the global stage.
Messi's record-breaking display has further cemented his legacy as one of football's greatest players, as he continues to defy age and expectations in the world's most prestigious tournament.
