Lionel Messi Scores First World Cup Hat-Trick

Lionel Messi delivered a vintage performance on the biggest stage, leading Argentina to a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The 38-year-old captain scored his first-ever World Cup hat-trick, bringing his career tally to 16 goals and tying Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all-time joint-top scorer. The match held even deeper significance as it took place exactly 20 years to the day after Messi’s World Cup debut against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, when he scored his first goal for Argentina.

Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a moment of individual brilliance, exchanging passes with Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul before rolling his defender and curling a precision left-footed strike past goalkeeper Luca Zidane from 30 yards out. He doubled the lead in the 60th minute, displaying sharp positional awareness to pounce on a defensive blunder and poke home after Zidane fumbled a save. The hat-trick was completed in the 76th minute, with Messi orchestrating a rapid counter-attack, releasing Nicolás González on the left wing, drifting into open space at the edge of the box, and slotting a trademark 20-yard side-footed finish into the bottom corner.

The performance was a masterclass in all-around command. Messi registered six shots, created two key passes, and even dropped back into the defensive third to win possession for his team, demonstrating the urgency and involvement that defines his leadership. His hat-trick also made him the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick at 38 years old, adding another record to his legendary career. The match marked his 200th international appearance for Argentina, further cementing his status as the country’s greatest footballer.

With this victory, the defending champions have sent a powerful message to the rest of the tournament. Messi’s ability to deliver on the world’s biggest stage at 38 years old defies conventional expectations, and his pursuit of an outright all-time World Cup scoring record adds another compelling narrative to Argentina’s title defense. As the tournament progresses, the football world will watch closely to see if Messi can surpass Klose’s record and lead his country to back-to-back World Cup triumphs. One thing is certain: Lionel Messi continues to rewrite the history books with every appearance.