Argentinian football legend Lionel Messi reached a slew of major milestones in the game against Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, 16 June.
Defending World Champions Argentina started their campaign in Group J against the North African nation. Even before the ball kicked off, Messi had already crossed some of those milestones just by being named in the starting 11.
He became the first player to make an appearance in six different World Cups. Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa had the chance to beat him to this record in the opening game versus South Africa. However, Ochoa was benched in favour of Raúl Rangel.
Cristiano Ronaldo is also currently at the sixth Mundial of his career. However, his Portuguese side play their first game against DR Congo later today, 17 June, thus Messi was first to make his appearance.
Also, Leo Messi made his 200th cap for Argentina. Needless to say, he is the record-holder in that regard for his country. He is also the second player to play 200 games for any men’s national team. The first one to achieve that was Cristiano Ronaldo, whose record for Portugal stands at 228 games and 143 goals as of now.
And then the game began.
Messi had already found the net against Algeria in the fifth minute, but it was ruled out for offside. The Algerians also scored an offside goal three minutes later.
The first goal that was allowed to stand was scored in the 17th minute, by—who else—Lionel Messi. He took a shot from the edge of the D, and although it was not the best-placed effort, the speed and spin of the ball beat Luca Zidane (son of French Ballon d’Or-winning former player Zinedine Zidane) in the Algerian goal, who only got a touch to it but couldn’t keep it out.
Zidane was a lot more at fault for Messi’s second goal in the 60th minute. Alexis Mac Allister’s long-range shot was straight at his feet, but he spilt it right in front of goal, where the Inter Miami football legend had little left to do to put it away.
Messi completed his historic hat-trick with another goal from outside the box. In the 76th minute, he curled the ball into the bottom near corner from about 18 yards out. Not only was this his first hat-trick in a World Cup, but he also matched Miroslav Klose of Germany’s record 16 goals scored in the competition’s history. Messi has a very good chance of overtaking Klose in the coming weeks.
The game ended 3–0 for Argentina.
These were Messi’s 118th, 119th, and 120th goals for the Argentinian national team—he tops that list as well. It was his 11th hat-trick scored for his country.
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