The little man from Rosario has etched his name deeper into football history, scoring a sensational hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026, breaking a long-standing World Cup record held by Brazilian legend Pelé.
Making his record sixth World Cup appearance and 200th international appearance for Argentina, the 38-year-old produced a masterclass performance at the Kansas City Stadium. Scoring his first in the 17th minute with a stunning long-range strike after receiving a pass from Rodrigo De Paul, curling the ball beyond goalkeeper Lucas Zidane.
He doubled his tally at the 60th minute by capitalising on a rebound following a fumble from Zidane, calmly converting from close range to give Argentina firm control of the contest.
Messi completed a memorable hat-trick in the 76th minute, finishing off with a clinical strike and bagging the first match ball of the World Cup. The performance also took his World Cup goal tally to 16, placing him among the tournament’s greatest goalscorers.
The last strike carried significance as it took Messi to 22 World Cup goal contributions, surpassing Pelé’s previous record of 21 and establishing a new benchmark in the tournament’s history.
The victory provided a dream start to Argentina’s World Cup campaign and once again highlighted Messi’s influence on the international stage. Despite being 38, the Argentine icon demonstrated the composure, vision and finishing ability that have defined one of football’s greatest careers.
With Argentina aiming for another deep run in the tournament, Messi’s record-breaking display has already emerged as one of the defining moments of the World Cup.
