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Lionel Messi has finally netted a hat-trick in the World Cup. The Inter Miami star found the net thrice to lead defending champions Argentina to a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria in their Group J opener at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Lionel Messi's first ever Hattrick powers Argentina defeat Algeria 3-0 in World Cup opener
Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, added a second just after the hour mark, and completed his first-ever World Cup hat-trick with a strike in the 76th minute. The performance propelled Argentina to a comfortable win and saw the FC Barcelona legend equal Miroslav Klose's all-time men's World Cup goals record with 16.
The Argentine captain, appearing in his sixth World Cup, has now scored in every tournament he has participated in. His hat-trick surpassed several legends on the all-time list, including Kylian Mbappé, who had briefly passed him earlier in the day, Thomas Müller, and Ronaldo Nazario.
Argentina dominated proceedings at Arrowhead Stadium, the home ground of NFL side the Kansas City Chiefs, controlling possession and creating numerous chances. Stars like Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez provided strong support in midfield and attack, though the spotlight remained firmly on Messi. Algeria struggled to create meaningful threats, finishing with a low expected goals tally.
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