Kansas City: Argentina captain Lionel Messi scripted another remarkable chapter in football history by becoming the first men’s player to appear in six FIFA World Cups and celebrating the milestone with a sensational hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria in their Group J opener at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Historic night for Argentina’s captain
On a landmark evening in Kansas City, Messi made his 200th international appearance for Argentina and became the first male footballer to participate in six separate FIFA World Cup tournaments. The achievement came exactly 20 years after his World Cup debut in Germany in 2006.
2026 FIFA World Cup
At 38 years of age, the Argentine icon once again demonstrated why he remains one of the sport’s defining figures, leading the defending champions to a convincing victory over Algeria.
Brilliant opener sets the tone
Argentina took the lead in the 17th minute when midfielder Alexis Mac Allister delivered a perfectly timed through ball that split the Algerian defence.
Messi timed his run to perfection before producing a trademark left-footed finish into the top corner beyond goalkeeper Luca Zidane. The goal immediately added another milestone to his already extraordinary career.
The strike made Messi both Argentina’s youngest and oldest World Cup goalscorer, highlighting the longevity of a career that has spanned two decades at the highest level. It also moved him further up the all-time World Cup scoring charts.
First World Cup hat-trick
Messi continued his dominance after the break.
He doubled Argentina’s advantage in the 60th minute after reacting quickest to a rebound inside the penalty area before completing his first-ever World Cup hat-trick with a clinical finish in the second half.
The treble was particularly significant because it marked the first World Cup hat-trick of Messi’s illustrious career despite appearing in six editions of the tournament.
His performance drew a standing ovation from supporters as Argentina began their title defence in emphatic fashion.
Equalled World Cup scoring record
The three goals took Messi’s World Cup tally to 16, drawing him level with former German striker Miroslav Klose as the leading scorer in men’s World Cup history.
Messi had entered the match with 13 World Cup goals and quickly climbed the rankings through his hat-trick performance.
The achievement further strengthens his legacy as one of football’s greatest players and places him within reach of becoming the outright leading scorer in World Cup history should he add to his tally later in the tournament.
Twenty years of World Cup excellence
Messi’s World Cup journey began in 2006 when he scored against Serbia and Montenegro as a teenager.
He later led Argentina to the 2014 World Cup final, won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, and finally lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022 after a memorable victory over France. During that triumphant campaign, he scored seven goals, including two in the final.
Many believed Qatar would be his final World Cup appearance, but the Argentine legend opted to continue and has now become the first player to reach six tournaments.
Argentina make strong start
Argentina national football team began their campaign in impressive fashion, securing three points and sending an early message to their rivals.
Lionel Scaloni praised Messi’s contribution, while teammates highlighted his leadership and enduring influence within the squad. The victory places Argentina in a strong position as they seek to defend the World Cup title they won in 2022.
Conclusion
Twenty years after announcing himself on the World Cup stage, Lionel Messi continues to redefine footballing greatness. By becoming the first men’s player to feature in six World Cups and marking the occasion with a historic hat-trick, the Argentine superstar once again demonstrated his ability to shine on the sport’s biggest stage. As Argentina chase back-to-back world titles, Messi’s latest masterclass suggests there may still be more history to come.
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