Messi Scores First World Cup Hat Trick as Argentina Opens Title Defense with 3-0 Win

Lionel Messi scored his first World Cup hat trick as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in the opening match of their title defense at the 2026 World Cup.

Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a strike from outside the penalty area. He added a second goal in the 60th minute and completed the hat trick in the 76th minute. The goals drew him level with Germany's Miroslav Klose on 16 career World Cup goals. An early goal by Messi was ruled offside.

Messi became the oldest player to score a hat trick at a World Cup. He also marked his 200th international appearance. Argentina is seeking to become the first team to retain the World Cup title since Brazil in 1962. The match was held at Kansas City Stadium in Missouri.

“Honestly, completely unrelated to the sport, I went through some difficult, complicated days," said Messi. " Messi said afterward that the emotion he showed was unrelated to his performance on the pitch. He tied the record without attaching personal significance to it. "It's an honour to be there because of what it means to be there next to Klose," Messi said. "It doesn't mean anything to me.”