Lionel Messi scored three goals in Argentina’s opening group match at the 2026 World Cup, tying Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in tournament history. The goals came against Algeria in a 3-0 win in Miami on Tuesday. Messi is now at 16 World Cup goals, level with a record that stood for 12 years.
He was 38 on the night, making him the oldest player to score a hat-trick at a World Cup. He broke the 17th-minute deadlock with a left-footed strike from distance, doubled the lead just after the hour mark, then added a third from the edge of the box with 14 minutes remaining.
Klose set the record across four World Cups, from 2002 to 2014. Messi has now reached the same total at his sixth tournament. He needs one more goal to stand alone as the greatest scorer in the history of the men’s competition.
One additional record fell quietly alongside the main one. Cristiano Ronaldo had been the oldest player to score a hat-trick at a World Cup. Messi, at 38, has taken that too. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said after the match that Messi was “unstoppable when he wants to be.”
The defending champions look settled and sharp, with Messi clearly motivated to add to a legacy that needs no further additions. He is one goal from history. The question is which match provides the moment.
