Lionel Messi delivered a historic performance on the opening night of Argentina’s FIFA World Cup title defence, scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Algeria and becoming the first player in history to feature in six FIFA World Cups.
The 38-year-old captain marked his record-breaking appearance in style, finding the net three times as Argentina opened their Group J campaign with a commanding win in Kansas City. The hat-trick was the first of Messi’s World Cup career and took his tally in the tournament to 16 goals, drawing level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose as the highest scorer in men's World Cup history.
Messi opened the scoring in the first half before adding a second shortly after the restart. He completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute and received a standing ovation when he was substituted later in the match. Argentina comfortably saw out the contest to begin their bid for back-to-back World Cup titles on a winning note.
The match also marked Messi’s 200th appearance for the Argentine national team, adding another milestone to a career that has already rewritten numerous records. Having made his World Cup debut in 2006, Messi has now appeared at six editions of football’s biggest tournament, a feat no other player has achieved.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni praised his captain after the match, saying Messi’s influence on the team remains unmatched. “His impact is incredible,” Scaloni said, as questions over the veteran forward’s fitness were put to rest following his dominant display.
Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul also hailed Messi’s leadership and commitment, highlighting his focus on the team rather than personal milestones. According to De Paul, Messi continues to lead by example despite approaching the latter stages of his playing career.
With the hat-trick, Messi also became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick, surpassing the previous record and adding yet another achievement to his World Cup legacy.
Reflecting on the achievement, Messi reportedly downplayed the significance of the record, describing it as “just a statistic.” However, his performance ensured that Argentina’s campaign began with a statement victory and further strengthened his place among the game's greatest players.
Argentina will next face Austria in their second Group J fixture as Messi looks to move beyond Klose and become the outright leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history.
