Lionel Messi moved within touching distance of World Cup history after scoring a hat-trick to lead Argentina to a commanding victory over Algeria in their Group J opener on Wednesday morning local time.
The Argentina captain scored in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes, taking his career total in World Cup finals to 16 goals and equaling Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record. The performance leaves the 38-year-old just one goal away from becoming the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
Messi entered the match with 13 World Cup goals and wasted no time in closing the gap. His opening strike came in trademark fashion in the 17th minute, as he dropped deep to combine in midfield before drifting into space outside the penalty area. After a quick one-two exchange, he curled a left-footed shot into the top corner beyond the reach of the Algerian goalkeeper.
His second goal arrived in the 60th minute after Argentina built pressure from the left side following a long distribution from Emiliano Martínez. A powerful effort from Alexis Mac Allister was not handled cleanly by Alexis Zidane in goal, and Messi reacted quickest to tap in the rebound from close range.
Messi completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute with a composed finish from the edge of the box after orchestrating a swift Argentine counterattack. After linking play and receiving the return pass, he steadied himself before placing a precise strike into the corner to extend Argentina’s advantage and secure the landmark moment.
The treble not only brought Messi level with Klose’s record of 16 goals but also intensified the race for World Cup scoring supremacy. France forward Kylian Mbappe remains in contention with 14 goals after scoring twice in France’s opening win over Senegal, but Messi now sits alone at the top of the race in the current tournament standings.
Klose had previously suggested his record would eventually be broken, particularly with the expanded 48-team format increasing the number of matches. Speaking to Suddeutsche Zeitung, as cited by BeIN Sports, the former Germany striker said he expected the milestone to fall in 2026 and expressed admiration for Messi.
“I expected my record to be broken at this World Cup,” Klose said. “Both Messi and Mbappe are likely to go far. That’s fine because records are meant to be broken. If it happens, I would be happy if Messi does it. I’ve always been a fan of his. He is a genius.”
Messi’s hat-trick has now placed him on the brink of another historic milestone. One more goal would see him surpass Klose outright and become the highest-scoring player in World Cup history, further extending a legacy already defined by record-breaking achievements on football’s biggest stage.
