Lionel Messi scored his first World Cup hat-trick as defending champions Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in their Group J opener at the 2026 tournament on Wednesday.
The 38-year-old superstar, appearing in a record sixth World Cup, struck in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes to inspire a dominant display in Kansas City, Missouri.
Messi’s brace in the second half came after a long-range opener, with the second capitalising on a goalkeeper error and the third a precise finish, sealing a vintage performance.
The 38-year-old captain netted his first-ever World Cup hat-trick, becoming the oldest player to achieve the feat and the first man to feature in six editions of the tournament.
Messi’s landmark performance saw him equal Klose’s record of 16 goals in the world’s biggest football competition.
The victory strengthens Argentina’s position as defending champions as they seek to retain the title won in Qatar in 2022.
Algeria struggled throughout and failed to register a single shot on target, the first time in World Cup history they have been blanked in this manner.
USWNT legend Carli Lloyd praised the Argentine icon’s display on social media. “Messi is playing with complete freedom… There’s simply no one else like him,” she said.
Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic expressed frustration over a Messi challenge that escaped a red card: “It’s pointless commenting on hypothetical situations, but everyone saw it, including me.”
Argentina top Group J after the win and will face Austria next, while Algeria take on Jordan. The victory reinforces Argentina’s credentials as they bid to retain their crown.
