Lionel Messi scored a hat trick to tie the all-time World Cup scoring record during Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria [1].
The achievement cements Messi's place in football history by matching a long-standing benchmark set by Germany's Miroslav Klose. It marks a pivotal moment for the Argentine captain as he continues to extend his legacy in the tournament.
The match took place on June 16, 2024, at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al-Khor, Qatar [1], [2]. Messi's three goals in the group-stage clash [3] brought his total World Cup tally to 16 goals [4]. This total places him as the joint all-time top scorer alongside Klose [1].
Argentina dominated the encounter, finishing the game with a final score of 3-0 [1]. The performance highlighted Messi's continued influence on the pitch, as he became the first player to appear in six World Cups [1].
While some reports initially suggested Messi had become the sole top scorer, verified data confirms he shares the record with the German striker [1]. The hat trick served as the catalyst for Argentina's win and pushed Messi to the 16-goal milestone [4].
“Messi's three goals in the group-stage clash brought his total World Cup tally to 16 goals.”
By equaling Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals, Messi has moved into a statistical tie for the most prolific scorer in the history of the world's most prestigious tournament. Given that he is the first player to participate in six World Cups, any further goals scored in the current competition would establish him as the undisputed sole record holder.
