Messi’s first World Cup hat-trick ties Klose’s record as Argentina sink Algeria
The holders began their title defence in style, with their captain producing a record-equalling treble against an outclassed Algeria side.
Jun 17, 2026
Some records feel like they will outlast everyone. Miroslav Klose’s mark of 16 World Cup goals had stood since 2014, untouched through two tournaments. In Kansas City on June 16, Lionel Messi drew level with it in the space of an hour, scoring his first World Cup hat-trick at the sixth attempt to send holders Argentina past Algeria 3-0 in their Group J opener.
At 38, in a tournament many assumed he would never reach, Messi produced the kind of performance that has defined the back end of his career: unhurried and ruthless, timed to the occasion. Argentina were rarely troubled, and by the time the captain completed his treble the only question left was how high the margin would climb.
A hat-trick built on patience
The opener came in the 17th minute, Messi taking aim from distance and finding the corner before Algeria had settled. The second, on the hour, was the simplest of the three, a close-range finish after Argentina had worked the ball across the box. He completed the set in the 76th minute with a curled effort into the bottom corner, the kind of finish he has made routine over two decades.
It was the first time Messi had scored three in a single World Cup match, and it carried him level with Klose on 16 goals across the tournament’s history. He had already become the first man to feature at six different World Cups when he walked out in Kansas City; the hat-trick made sure the night was remembered for more than the milestone of turning up.
Argentina rarely tested
For all the focus on their captain, Argentina were comfortable throughout. Lionel Scaloni’s side controlled possession and created the clearer openings, finishing with six shots on target while Algeria had none. The African side, knowing they were outsiders, looked to stay compact and break when they could, but they struggled to lay a glove on a defence that has lost little of the solidity that carried Argentina to the title in 2022.
Scaloni, who has now overseen Messi at his peak and in this extended late chapter, admitted afterwards that he was running out of ways to describe his captain. The coach has spent years insisting Argentina are more than one player, and the supporting cast did their job here, but on nights like this the headline writes itself.
A statement in Group J
The win gives Argentina the early initiative in Group J and the cushion of a clean opening performance. Defending a World Cup is rarely straightforward, and recent history has been unkind to holders, but a 3-0 result with the captain in this kind of form is the sort of start that settles a camp.
For Algeria, back at the World Cup and eager to make an impression, the task now is to regroup. They were second best for long stretches, but the group is far from decided, and a tournament that has already produced upsets offers them a route back if they recover quickly.
Argentina, meanwhile, will fancy this. Messi has a record within touching distance, the team around him is functioning, and the holders have announced themselves without breaking stride.