Lionel Messi scored his first World Cup hat-trick on Tuesday to equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 goals at the FIFA World Cup, leading Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in their Group C opener at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The goals came in the 22nd, 58th, and 74th minutes, each different in character. The first was a penalty driven low to the goalkeeper’s right. The second was a deft finish from inside the area after a through ball split the Algerian defence. The third was the kind of instinctive strike that has defined Messi’s career — a quick turn in the box and a shot placed precisely beyond the reach of the goalkeeper before he could set himself. Argentina’s three goals gave the defending champions a commanding start in a group they are expected to dominate.

The record meant everything in terms of context. Klose, the German striker, had set his mark of 16 World Cup goals across four tournaments between 2002 and 2014, and it had stood as the most by any player in the competition’s history. Messi, playing in his sixth and likely final World Cup at the age of 38, now stands level with Klose, needing one more goal to claim the record outright. He has scored in the knock-out stages of every World Cup he has completed since 2014, giving Argentina’s supporters every reason to believe he will have more opportunities.

Algeria offered resistance in the opening quarter-hour but were unable to sustain it against Argentina’s pressure. Once Messi converted the penalty, the Algerian shape opened up, and the South American side exploited the space with efficiency. Other Group C fixtures are running concurrently as all 48 nations now in action across the expanded 2026 tournament.

Coach Lionel Scaloni named his strongest available lineup for the opener, a contrast to some rivals who rotated in their first fixture. The decision paid off in full. Inter Miami’s partnership with Messi this past season kept him in form throughout a domestic campaign that doubled as preparation for this moment, and he arrived in New Jersey showing no signs of the fatigue that has occasionally affected older players at late summer tournaments. Argentina’s group stage rivals will need to account for a player now chasing history with every appearance.

Algeria, for their part, created very little and will regroup for their next match knowing the gap in quality was clear from an early stage. They need results elsewhere to open up if they are to advance. Argentina, by contrast, look as close to a finished product as any team in this tournament, with the most decorated player in the game’s history still producing at the highest level. The question now is not whether Messi can surpass Klose — it is how soon. Full bracket details are available at FIFA’s official tournament page.