Lionel Messi delivered a vintage masterclass as Argentina cruised to a 3–0 victory over Algeria in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group J encounter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Argentine captain struck in the 17th minute to open the scoring with a composed finish that settled Argentina early in the contest.
He returned in the 60th minute, this time showcasing his trademark movement and sharp positioning to double the lead and put the game further out of reach.
He then completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute with a clinical strike that the keeper dared not save.
The performance saw Messi etch his name even deeper into World Cup history, and reenforcing the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) debate.
With his hat-trick against Algeria, Messi moved level at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring chart with 16 goals, which cemented his status as one of the tournament’s most consistent performers across generations.
At 38 years and 357 days old, he also became the oldest player in World Cup history to score a hat-trick, while simultaneously making history as the first player to feature in six editions of the FIFA World Cup.
Beyond that, he charted as the player with the most matches played. Since his debut in 2006, he has featured in 27 World Cup matches across 6 different tournaments (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026).
He also stands as the player with the most minutes on the pitch with 2,394 minutes across the 27 World Cup match appearances
Meanwhile, Argentina’s commanding win has strengthens their position in Group J as they continue to defend their World Cup title.
