Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to lead Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup [1].
The performance is significant because it establishes Messi as the oldest player to ever score a World Cup hat-trick and ties him with the all-time scoring record for the tournament [2].
The match took place on June 16, 2026, in Kansas City, U.S. [1]. Argentina dominated the contest from the start, finishing the game with a final score of 3-0 [3]. All three goals were credited to Messi, who used the match to solidify his legacy on the global stage [1].
At 38 years old, Messi became the oldest player to achieve a hat-trick in the competition's history [2]. This feat brought his total World Cup goal tally to 16 [2], a figure that ties him with the previous record held by Miroslav Klose [2].
The result sparked immediate celebrations among supporters in Kansas City [1]. While some reports noted celebrations in Buenos Aires, primary accounts focused on the crowds surrounding the venue in the U.S. [1, 4].
Messi's ability to maintain a high level of production at 38 years old has drawn attention from analysts and fans alike. The victory provides Argentina with an early advantage in the group stage of the tournament [3].
“Messi became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick.”
Messi's achievement at age 38 shifts the narrative of his final World Cup appearances from mere participation to active dominance. By tying the all-time goal record, he has moved into a statistical tie for the most productive player in the history of the tournament, placing immense pressure on the next generation of strikers to surpass a benchmark set by a veteran in the twilight of his career.
