Lionel Messi made history on Wednesday after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The three-goal performance marked Messi’s first-ever hat-trick in a World Cup match and saw him become the oldest player to achieve the feat in the tournament’s history.
In doing so, the Argentine captain surpassed the previous record held by Cristiano Ronaldo, who was 33 years and 122 days old when he scored a hat-trick against Spain at the 2018 World Cup.
Messi’s latest achievement came exactly 20 years after his World Cup debut against Serbia and Montenegro, a match in which he also found the back of the net.
The veteran forward’s three goals have also propelled him to the top of the race for the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup.
Messi’s outstanding display ensured Argentina began their campaign in impressive fashion with a comfortable victory over Algeria.
