“Messi World Cup history was made in Kansas City as Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to lead Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener.“
KANSAS CITY — Lionel Messi arrived at the 2026 FIFA World Cup carrying questions about age, fitness and whether one final tournament might be a step too far.
Ninety minutes later, the Argentina captain had delivered another answer.
Messi scored the first World Cup hat-trick of his career as defending champions Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 in Kansas City on Tuesday, opening their title defence with a result that also pushed the 38-year-old into football history.
The Argentine forward struck in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes, taking his World Cup goal tally to 16 and drawing level with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose as the competition’s all-time leading scorer. The performance came in Messi’s 200th international appearance and his record sixth World Cup tournament.
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The hat-trick also made Messi the oldest player to score three goals in a World Cup match.
The evening did not begin smoothly. Messi thought he had opened the scoring after eight minutes when he converted from close range, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Algeria had a similar setback moments later when Fares Chaibi found the net only to see his effort disallowed as well.
Argentina eventually broke through when Messi capped a trademark run with a powerful finish beyond Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, the son of former France star Zinedine Zidane. The goal settled the defending champions and exposed the gap between the sides.
Messi doubled Argentina’s lead on the hour mark after reacting quickest to a rebound from an Alexis Mac Allister effort. His third arrived in the 76th minute, a low finish from outside the penalty area that completed the hat-trick and brought the Kansas City crowd to its feet.
Three minutes later he was substituted to a standing ovation.
“The dream start to his record-setting appearance was not to be denied for long“, said the reporter from the match, describing the performance that placed Messi alongside Klose in the World Cup record books.
The result also eased concerns surrounding Messi’s fitness. The Inter Miami forward had dealt with a hamstring issue late in the Major League Soccer season, prompting speculation over his readiness for the tournament. Argentina coaching staff repeatedly insisted he would be available, and Tuesday’s display suggested the injury has not significantly affected him.
There was another milestone hidden beneath the scoreline. The match marked Messi’s 200th appearance for Argentina, a career that began in 2005 when he was 18 years old. Only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who is expected to make his 229th international appearance this week, and Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa have played more men’s internationals.
Argentina’s victory carried extra significance given their recent World Cup history. Four years ago in Qatar, Lionel Scaloni’s side opened with a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia before recovering to win the tournament. There was no repeat against Algeria.
The defending champions now turn their attention to Austria, their next Group J opponents. One more World Cup goal from Messi would move him clear of Klose and leave him alone at the top of one of football’s most prestigious records.
For now, Argentina has the perfect start. And Messi, once again, has rewritten another page of World Cup history.
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