Lionel Messi Shines with Historic Hat-Trick in FIFA World Cup 2026 Opener

Messi's Stellar Performance in World Cup 2026

Missouri [US], June 17: Argentine football legend Lionel Messi proved once again why he is considered the greatest of all time, leading his team, Argentina, to a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener. His exceptional display of skill and finesse captivated fans worldwide.

With this match, Messi achieved his first World Cup hat-trick, bringing his total to 16 goals, which ties him with Germany's Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in men's World Cup history. Remarkably, this milestone comes just a week before Messi's 39th birthday, making him the oldest player to score a hat-trick in World Cup history.

Interestingly, Messi's hat-trick coincides with the 20th anniversary of his first World Cup goal, which he scored on June 16, 2006, during Argentina's 6-0 triumph over Serbia.

In his 200th match for Argentina, Messi showcased his brilliance early on. A quick free-kick from De Paul found him in midfield, and he surged forward, unleashing a powerful shot from distance that grazed the fingertips of goalkeeper Luca Zidane before finding the top corner, giving Argentina the lead in the 17th minute.

Messi struck again shortly after, capitalizing on a clever pass that freed Gonzalez down the left flank. After a cross was partially cleared, Mac Allister's shot was parried into a dangerous area, where Messi was quick to react, tapping in the rebound for what was one of the simplest goals of his illustrious career.

In the 76th minute, Messi initiated a brilliant play with a mesmerizing dribble in the center circle before passing to Nico Gonzalez on the left. After a touch, Gonzalez returned the ball to Messi at the edge of the box, where the Argentine maestro curled a low shot into the bottom corner, sealing his hat-trick.