Argentina made the perfect start to their 2026 World Cup campaign by comfortably defeating Algeria 3-0 on Wednesday. But beyond the Albiceleste’s victory, the night belonged to Lionel Messi, who delivered a monumental hat-trick at the age of 38.
Playing in his sixth World Cup, a feat never before achieved in football history, Argentina’s captain wasted little time making an impact. Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a stunning strike into the top corner. Dominant against a brave but limited Algerian side, the reigning world champions controlled the match before their legend struck again.
Messi Reaches New World Cup Milestones
Messi capitalized on a rebound from the Algerian goalkeeper to score his second goal of the evening before completing his masterclass with a superb left-footed finish. With this performance, the Inter Miami forward joined Miroslav Klose at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring charts.
The evening had already been historic before kickoff. Starting against Algeria, Messi became the first player ever to appear in six World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026). A few hours later, he also celebrated his 200th cap for Argentina, a milestone previously reached only by Cristiano Ronaldo at international level.
This angle is Leo Messi’s goal 🤩🐐 pic.twitter.com/ZM7j2FvBfU
— Inter Miami News Hub (@Intermiamicfhub) June 17, 2026
Between his longevity record, his 200th international appearance, and a historic hat-trick, Messi once again reminded the world why he remains one of the greatest players of all time. It was a dream start for Argentina and yet another legendary chapter in the career of La Pulga.
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