Jakarta, ThedailyID — Lionel Messi became the first player to score a hat-trick at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after leading Argentina to a dominant win over Algeria.
The Argentine captain achieved the feat during a Group J match at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Tuesday, June 16.
Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a powerful strike from outside the penalty area. The goal gave Argentina an early advantage and set the tone for the match.
He doubled Argentina’s lead in the 60th minute. This time, Messi calmly converted a rebound after Alexis Mac Allister’s shot created danger inside the box.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute. He finished a well-worked move with Nico González by firing a low shot into the corner of the net.
With three goals, Messi moved to the top of the World Cup 2026 scoring chart. Meanwhile, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé followed with two goals each.
The hat-trick also saw Messi equal a long-standing World Cup record. He now shares the tournament’s all-time scoring mark with Miroslav Klose, with both players recording 16 World Cup goals.
Because Argentina’s clash against Algeria marked the opening match of Group J, Messi has several opportunities to surpass Klose’s record during the remainder of the tournament.
World Cup 2026 marks Messi’s sixth appearance at football’s biggest event. Moreover, his latest milestone further strengthens his status as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
