Twenty years to the day after his World Cup debut, Lionel Messi delivered a performance for the ages, scoring his first-ever World Cup hat-trick to equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 goals. Now, with at least two group-stage matches remaining, the 38-year-old stands just one goal away from claiming the record outright.
A Night for the Ages
In Argentina’s 3-0 Group J victory over Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium, Messi was simply unstoppable. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a vintage left-footed strike from outside the box, curling past Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane—the son of French legend Zinedine Zidane.
He doubled the lead in the 60th minute, pouncing on a rebound after Zidane spilled Alexis Mac Allister’s long-range effort. Then, in the 76th minute, substitute Nico Gonzalez laid the ball into Messi’s path, and the veteran coolly finished from the edge of the area to complete his treble.
A Record-Breaking Night
The hat-trick was Messi’s 61st career hat-trick and his 11th for Argentina. It also made him only the second player after Cristiano Ronaldo to score in five different World Cup tournaments.
When Messi was substituted shortly after his third goal, he received a standing ovation from the adoring Kansas City crowd. The appearance was also his 200th international cap, making him just the third man to reach that milestone after Ronaldo and Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.
The All-Time Scoring List
With his 16th goal, Messi now shares the summit with Klose, who scored 16 across four tournaments between 2002 and 2014. Behind them sits Brazil’s Ronaldo Nazário with 15, followed by Gerd Müller and Kylian Mbappé on 14, Just Fontaine on 13, and Pelé on 12.
What Comes Next
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was left marveling at his captain. “At a loss for words about Leo. What can I say? He’s incredible,” Scaloni said.
Messi now has the chance to become the outright leading scorer in World Cup history when Argentina faces Austria on June 22. One more goal, and a record many thought would last for generations will belong solely to him.
