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