Lionel Messi stole the spotlight once again as Argentina opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Algeria, powered by the veteran forward’s first-ever World Cup hat-trick.
On a day when Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland had already grabbed headlines with braces for France and Norway respectively, Messi ensured the final word belonged to him.
The 38-year-old produced a masterclass in Kansas City, becoming the first player in history to appear at six World Cups while also drawing level with Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with 16 goals.
Two decades after making his World Cup debut as an 18-year-old in Germany, Messi delivered another unforgettable performance on his 200th appearance for Argentina.
The warning signs arrived early when he thought he had opened the scoring after just four minutes, only for the offside flag to deny him.
His breakthrough came in the 18th minute. Receiving the ball 25 yards from goal, Messi shifted onto his favoured left foot and unleashed a powerful curling effort that beat goalkeeper Luca Zidane despite the Frenchman’s best efforts to keep it out.
The goal sparked wild celebrations among Argentina supporters and set the tone for the rest of the evening.
Messi doubled his tally shortly after the hour mark when a costly mistake from Zidane gifted him possession inside the penalty area. The Argentine star calmly slotted home to become the oldest player ever to score twice in a World Cup match.
His historic hat-trick arrived in the 76th minute after substitute Nico Gonzalez provided the assist. Messi made no mistake, completing a memorable treble and moving level with Klose atop the World Cup scoring charts.
As thousands of Argentina fans celebrated, Messi stood with arms raised, soaking in yet another milestone in a career filled with remarkable achievements.
After the match, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner reflected on the occasion.
“To enjoy this with my family, my team-mates and the fans is a really beautiful moment,” Messi said.
“Everything I’m experiencing now is a bonus. I’ve been fortunate enough to achieve more than I ever dreamed of.”
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was equally full of praise.
“I don’t have the words to describe Messi,” he said. “For 20 years he has been doing things that inspire everyone who watches him play.”
However, the night was not without controversy.
Shortly after opening the scoring, Messi escaped punishment following a challenge on Algeria defender Aissa Mandi. His studs appeared to catch the back of Mandi’s calf, but neither referee Szymon Marciniak nor VAR deemed the incident worthy of a red card.
The decision divided opinion.
Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha believed Messi was fortunate to remain on the pitch.
“It should have been a red card,” he said.
But former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry disagreed, insisting Messi was attempting to play the ball rather than harm his opponent.
Whatever the debate, the incident did little to overshadow another magical night from football’s greatest showman.
On a day packed with superstar performances, Messi once again proved why he remains the player every football fan wants to watch.
