Argentina captain Lionel Messi moved to within one goal of becoming the outright highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history after producing a sensational hat-trick in the defending champions’ commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria in their Group J clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Kansas City.
Key Highlights:
- Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3–0 win over Algeria national football team.
- It was Messi’s first-ever World Cup hat-trick.
- He reached 16 World Cup goals.
- Messi equalled Miroslav Klose‘s all-time World Cup scoring record.
- One more goal will make Messi the outright record holder.
The 38-year-old football legend delivered a masterclass, netting the first World Cup hat-trick of his illustrious career while drawing level with German icon Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals, further cementing his legacy as one of football’s greatest-ever players.
Argentina dominated proceedings from the opening whistle, controlling possession and dictating the pace against an Algerian side that struggled to break through the South Americans’ organised defence.
Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute after latching onto a perfectly weighted pass from Rodrigo De Paul before firing emphatically beyond goalkeeper Luca Zidane.
The Argentine skipper doubled his tally in the 60th minute after capitalising on a costly error by Zidane, who failed to gather a long-range effort from Alexis Mac Allister. Messi reacted quickest to the loose ball, calmly slotting home his 15th World Cup goal.
He completed his memorable hat-trick in the 76th minute, finishing a sweeping team move after receiving a well-timed pass from substitute Nico González, sealing Argentina’s convincing 3-0 triumph.
The third goal carried historic significance as it took Messi’s World Cup tally to 16, equalling Klose’s long-standing tournament record and making the Argentine captain the joint-highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.
It also marked the first World Cup hat-trick of Messi’s remarkable career, achieved across six editions of football’s biggest tournament.
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The victory secured Argentina’s second consecutive win of the tournament and strengthened the defending champions’ position at the top of Group J as head coach Lionel Scaloni continues his quest to lead the South American giants to back-to-back World Cup titles—a feat last accomplished by Brazil in 1962.
Despite approaching his 39th birthday later this month, Messi once again proved that age is no barrier to excellence, producing another inspirational display that reaffirmed his importance to Argentina’s title defence.
Argentina will now turn their attention to a Group J showdown with Austria, while Algeria face a must-win encounter in their bid to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.
With just one more goal at the tournament, Messi will surpass Klose and become the outright highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.
