Lionel Messi Shines with Hat-Trick in FIFA World Cup 2026 Opener
Messi's Historic Performance
In Missouri, USA, on June 17, Lionel Messi kicked off his FIFA World Cup 2026 journey in spectacular fashion, netting a hat-trick that propelled Argentina to a 3-0 victory against Algeria. This remarkable feat not only showcased his talent but also etched his name in the annals of football history, as he now shares the record for the most goals scored in World Cup tournaments.
Messi's tally now stands at 16 goals, placing him level with Germany's Miroslav Klose. He has surpassed Brazil's Ronaldo, who scored 15 goals, and both Gerd Muller from Germany and France's Kylian Mbappe, who each have 14 goals. Earlier in the day, Mbappe had matched Muller's record with two goals in France's 3-1 win over Senegal.
Following closely behind are Just Fontaine of France with 13 goals and the legendary Pele from Brazil with 12.
Celebrating his 200th match for Argentina, Messi delivered an exceptional performance, scoring three distinct types of goals. His first goal came in the 17th minute with a powerful long-range shot following a quick free-kick taken by De Paul. The second was a close-range effort after a rebound from Mac Allister's attempt. He completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute with a beautifully curled shot after initiating the play with a dazzling run.
Interestingly, this hat-trick coincided with the 20th anniversary of Messi's inaugural World Cup goal, which he scored in 2006 during Argentina's 6-0 triumph over Serbia, marking another significant milestone in his illustrious career.
This match against Algeria also marked a historic moment as Messi became the first player to participate in six editions of the men's FIFA World Cup, surpassing notable players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Antonio Carbajal, Andres Guardado, Rafael Marquez, and Lothar Matthaus, who were previously tied with him in World Cup appearances.
Since turning 35, Messi has scored 10 goals in World Cup matches, outpacing the total career World Cup goals of Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Diego Maradona, Rivaldo, Neymar, and Harry Kane combined.