Lionel Messi etched his name into football history after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria in their opening Group J match at Kansas City Stadium on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
The Argentina captain has now scored 16 goals in FIFA World Cup finals, equaling the all-time record held by German striker Miroslav Klose.
In addition, the 38-year-old became the first player to appear in six FIFA World Cup final tournaments.
The hat-trick was especially meaningful for Messi as it coincided with his 200th appearance for Argentina and came exactly 20 years after his World Cup debut for La Albiceleste on June 16, 2006.
Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute. After gaining possession in midfield, the captain unleashed a curling strike from outside the penalty area that left Luca Zidane with no chance of making a save.
His second goal came in the 60th minute after he capitalized on a rebound from a powerful shot by Alexis Mac Allister.
Messi completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute. From the edge of the penalty area, he once again showcased his trademark brilliance with a curling effort that found the corner of Algeria’s net.
“Everything I am experiencing now is a bonus. I am fortunate to have achieved all of my dreams, even more than I ever imagined, both professionally and personally. Right now, I am simply enjoying it, being part of an incredible team, feeling good, and enjoying myself on the pitch. It is far beyond what I imagined when I was a child,” Messi said after the match, as quoted by FIFA.
Not Yet at Their Most Explosive
Despite the convincing victory, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni felt that his team was not at its most explosive throughout the full 90 minutes.
However, efficiency proved to be Argentina’s greatest strength.
Messi and his teammates controlled the tempo of the match and took advantage of key moments to punish their opponents.
The 48-year-old coach also reserved special praise for Messi, who once again proved to be the difference-maker for his side.
“There are no words left to describe Messi. For 20 years, he has continued to do extraordinary things and inspire everyone who watches him play,” Scaloni said.
Praise for Messi also came from the opposing camp.
Algeria captain Aissa Mandi admitted that his team struggled to contain a player he considers one of the greatest footballers of all time.
“The difference was one extremely efficient player. Almost every chance he had ended up as a goal. We tried to stop him, but he was simply too good for us,” Mandi said.
The result moved Argentina to the top of the Group J standings on goal difference.
Austria sit closely behind in second place after securing a 3-1 victory over World Cup debutants Jordan in another match played at Kansas City Stadium.
Austria’s goals were scored by Romano Schmid in the 21st minute, an own goal by Yazan Al Arab in the 76th minute, and a penalty from Marko Arnautovic in the 90+12th minute.
Jordan’s lone goal was scored by Ali Iyad Ali Olwan in the 50th minute.
