Lionel Messi once again etched his name into football history with a stunning hat-trick performance in Argentina's 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Algeria. The match, held at the iconic Maracana Stadium, saw Argentina secure a commanding 4-1 victory, with Messi scoring three goals and providing an assist.
Records Broken by Messi
Messi's hat-trick broke several longstanding World Cup records. Firstly, he surpassed the previous record for most goals in World Cup history, taking his tally to 18 goals, overtaking the legendary Miroslav Klose's 16 goals. Additionally, Messi now holds the record for the most hat-tricks in World Cup tournaments, with three, surpassing the previous record of two held by multiple players.
Furthermore, Messi became the player with the most World Cup appearances, featuring in his sixth tournament and making his 27th appearance, breaking the record held by Lothar Matthäus. His performance also made him the oldest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match at the age of 38 years and 213 days.
Match Highlights
Argentina started brightly, with Messi opening the scoring in the 12th minute with a trademark left-footed strike from outside the box. Algeria equalized through a penalty in the 35th minute, but Messi restored the lead just before halftime with a header from a corner. In the second half, Messi completed his hat-trick in the 68th minute with a curling free-kick that left the Algerian goalkeeper rooted to the spot. He then set up teammate Lautaro Martinez for the fourth goal in the 82nd minute.
The victory puts Argentina top of Group C, with their next match against Denmark scheduled for June 22. Messi's record-breaking performance has sent shockwaves through the football world, with fans and pundits alike hailing it as one of the greatest individual displays in World Cup history.
