Lionel Messi Equals Historic World Cup Goals Record with Stunning Hat-Trick

June 17, 2026 – Argentina captain Lionel Messi delivered a memorable performance by scoring a hat-trick in his side’s opening FIFA World Cup match against Algeria, helping the defending champions begin their title defense with an impressive victory.

The match marked Messi’s 200th appearance for Argentina at the international level, adding further significance to an already historic occasion. The veteran forward celebrated the milestone by netting the first World Cup hat-trick of his illustrious career.

With his three goals against Algeria, Messi increased his overall World Cup tally to 16 goals. The achievement places him level with legendary German striker Miroslav Klose as the joint-highest scorer in FIFA World Cup history.

Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a well-taken finish to give Argentina an early advantage. He doubled the lead in the second half after capitalizing on an error by Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane before completing his hat-trick with a powerful strike in the 76th minute.

The 38-year-old Argentine star also reached another remarkable milestone by becoming the first footballer to appear in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments. His World Cup journey began in 2006 and continued through the 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and now the 2026 editions.

Messi’s latest achievement further strengthens his legacy as one of football’s greatest players, while giving Argentina a perfect start to their campaign as they seek to retain the world title.