Lionel Messi brushed aside the significance of his latest World Cup milestone after inspiring Argentina to a convincing 3-0 victory over Algeria with a stunning hat-trick in their opening Group J match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 38-year-old captain produced a masterclass in Kansas City on Tuesday night, scoring all three goals as the defending champions began their title defence in emphatic fashion. The performance saw Messi equal Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s all time men’s FIFA World Cup scoring record of 16 goals.
Despite reaching the landmark, Messi played down its significance, describing the achievement as “just a statistic” and insisting that personal records are secondary to helping Argentina succeed at the tournament.
Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute after an earlier effort had been ruled out for offside. He doubled Argentina’s lead shortly after the hour mark before completing his first ever World Cup hat-trick in the 76th minute to seal the victory.
The remarkable display added another chapter to an already unparalleled international career. In addition to matching Klose’s record, Messi became the first player to feature in six FIFA World Cups and marked his 200th appearance for Argentina. He also became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick.
Argentina’s dominant victory silenced concerns over the reigning champions’ form heading into the tournament and provided the perfect start to their campaign. Head coach Lionel Scaloni and several teammates praised Messi’s leadership and enduring influence, with many hailing the performance as further evidence of his lasting brilliance on football’s biggest stage.
The result places Argentina in a strong position in Group J as they continue their quest to retain the World Cup crown. Their next group stage fixture will be against Austria, while Algeria will look to bounce back when they face Jordan.
Although the record books now place him alongside Klose, Messi’s focus remains firmly on team success. For the Argentine icon, the milestone may be historic, but as he made clear after the match, it is ultimately “just a number.”
