Lionel Messi has created another history in the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener. The Inter Miami striker delivered a masterclass performance, scoring his first-ever FIFA World Cup hat-trick to lead defending champions Argentina to a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria in their Group J opener.
Lionel Messi makes History with Hat-Trick; breaks Cristiano Ronaldo's record at World Cup opener
The 38-year-old and Argentina captain opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a brilliant long-range strike. He added a second goal around the hour mark after capitalizing on a goalkeeper error and completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute with a precise finish into the bottom corner.
The performance saw Messi tie Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goals record at 16 and become the oldest player ever to score a hat-trick at the tournament. Following this, he has now surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo’s mark, set at age 33 in 2018.
Argentina dominated possession and created numerous chances, with key contributions from midfielders like Enzo Fernández. Messi was substituted late in the second half as the team comfortably secured all three points.
Algeria struggled to create meaningful threats against the Argentine defense. This result marks a strong start to Argentina’s title defense and highlights Messi’s enduring excellence on the global stage, now scoring in six different World Cups.
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