Lionel Messi Makes History with Hat-Trick in FIFA World Cup 2026

Lionel Messi made history by scoring his first hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup match during Argentina's opening game against Algeria in 2026. At 38 years old, he not only led his team to a 3-0 victory but also became the oldest player to achieve this feat in World Cup history. This match marked his 200th appearance for Argentina, and with his goals, Messi surpassed several records, including becoming the player with the most goal contributions in World Cup history. Discover more about this historic achievement and its significance in the world of football.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 17, 2026, 09:32 IST

Messi's Historic Hat-Trick

In a remarkable achievement, Lionel Messi has set a new milestone by scoring his first-ever hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup match during Argentina's opening game of the 2026 tournament against Algeria. The defending champions secured a 3-0 victory, with Messi, at 38 years old, netting all three goals. This match also marked his 200th appearance for the national team, making him the first player to participate in six editions of the World Cup. Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a stunning left-footed shot from outside the penalty area. He then capitalized on a mistake by the Algerian goalkeeper to score from close range in the 60th minute, before sealing his hat-trick with a curling shot from outside the box in the 76th minute.

Lionel Messi Creates History

Messi has now become the oldest player to score a hat-trick in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo's previous record set in 2018 when he scored three times against Spain. Oldest Hat-Trick Scorers In FIFA World Cup History

Player	Age	Team	Opponent	Year
Lionel Messi	38 years, 357 days	Argentina	Algeria	2026
Cristiano Ronaldo	33 Years, 130 days	Portugal	Spain	2018
Rob Rensenbrink	30 years, 335 days	Netherlands	Iran	1978
Pedro Ceo	29 years, 329 days	Uruguay	Yugoslavia	1930
Gabriel Batistuta	29 years, 140 days	Argentina	Jamaica	1998

Additionally, Messi has broken Gabriel Batistuta's record as the oldest Argentinian to score a World Cup hat-trick and is the first player to achieve this feat after turning 30. Previously, only Batistuta, Gonzalo Higuain, and Guillermo Stábile had accomplished this for Argentina. Furthermore, Messi has also become the oldest player in World Cup history to score multiple goals in a single match, surpassing Roger Milla's long-standing record. With his first goal, Messi has also overtaken Pele to become the player with the most goal contributions in World Cup history, and he is now just one goal shy of becoming the tournament's all-time leading scorer.