Lionel Messi made history during the 2026 World Cup by scoring his first tournament hat trick, leading Argentina to a convincing 3-0 win over Algeria in their Group J opener. This remarkable achievement also saw him surpass Cristiano Ronaldo to become the oldest player to score a hat trick in World Cup history.

Messi's Historic Performance

Messi's memorable outing began with a tense opening phase, where both teams had goals ruled out for offside. However, the Argentine captain broke the stalemate in the 17th minute with a powerful long-range shot. He then extended Argentina's lead in the 60th minute, capitalizing on a rebound from goalkeeper Luca Zidane. Messi capped off his historic performance in the 76th minute, finishing off a clever pass from Nicolas Gonzalez.

A Milestone at 38

At 38 years and 357 days old, Messi's achievement is particularly noteworthy as it comes just a week before his 39th birthday. This performance not only highlights his enduring talent but also solidifies his legacy on the world stage.

With this hat trick, Messi stands alone in World Cup history, having scored against 11 different teams throughout his illustrious career. His performance against Algeria marks a significant milestone as Argentina embarks on their World Cup journey.