Argentina captain Lionel Messi etched his name deeper into football folklore by becoming the oldest player to score a hat-trick in FIFA World Cup history during Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria in their 2026 World Cup opener.
At 38, Messi surpassed the previous record held by Cristiano Ronaldo, who was 33 when he netted a hat-trick against Spain at the 2018 World Cup.
The Argentine superstar delivered a masterclass, scoring all three goals as the defending champions began their title defence in emphatic fashion. The hat-trick also took Messi’s World Cup goal tally to 16, drawing level with former German striker Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
The landmark performance came in Messi’s 200th international appearance for Argentina, another remarkable milestone in a career already packed with records. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also became the first footballer to feature in six FIFA World Cups, underlining his extraordinary longevity at the highest level.
Messi opened the scoring in the first half before adding two more goals after the break to seal a comfortable win for Argentina. His display reinforced the belief that the reigning world champions remain among the favourites to lift the trophy once again.
With the historic treble, Messi not only shattered Ronaldo’s age record for a World Cup hat-trick but also moved within touching distance of becoming the outright highest scorer in World Cup history.
Discussion about this post