Lionel Messi has had an incredible start to the World Cup.
The Argentine superstar completed a hat-trick in the match against Algeria.
Messi is only the third Argentine to score three goals in a World Cup match.
He is playing his 200th match for Argentina, and has 120 goals.
Messi has scored 16 goals in the World Cup. He now shares the record with Miroslav Klose.
Messi left the field in the 79th minute, with the score 3:0. It was followed by numerous cheers from the fans.
Messi's brilliance continued to set several Guinness records
Photo: Associated Press
With three goals in the first match of the 2026 World Cup against Algeria, legend Lionel Messi has continued to break several Guinness records.
The record book page wrote that Messi continues to be the top scoring captain in the World Cup with 16 goals, the player with the most appearances in the World Cup (27), the most minutes in the World Cup (2394), the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the World Cup (38 years, 11 months and 24 days) and the player who has appeared in the most World Cups (6).
He is now the top scorer in World Cup history (16 goals), equaling Miroslav Klose's tally with Germany.
Messi proves once again that he is incomparable
With a stunning hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria at the World Cup, 38-year-old Lionel Messi justified coach Lionel Scaloni's assertion that he remains fundamental for the reigning world champions.
Twenty years after scoring his first goal at the World Cup, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has written another chapter in football history. He has now tied with Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer at the tournament. Both have 16 goals.
Messi played in a record sixth World Cup, and also played his 200th international match. And there was no better way to end it. Messi's name was called before the match even started, and he left to the cheers and applause of the passionate spectators in the stadium.
Besides the three goals, two of which were very beautiful, Messi's efforts and defensive intensity proved what the superstar gives to the Argentine team.
"It's an advantage to have Leon, because of the way he manages the group and takes it forward," said midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, who assisted on the first goal.
"He doesn't pay attention to individual records. He prioritizes the team and for us that's incredible."
Messi's performance also offered a reminder of his resilience. He arrived at the World Cup having recovered from a muscle strain. And suddenly any concerns about his fitness were dispelled.
Scaloni's statement that Messi is now even more important for Argentina was borne out on the pitch. The superstar imposed his pace on the match, despite many years having passed since he was at the peak of European football.
"I have no words for Leo. What can I say? He is incredible. He has been doing this for 20 years. Everyone in football wants to watch him and enjoy him," said coach Scaloni after the match.
This is expected to be Messi's last World Cup. And fans are enjoying every moment of him on the pitch.
Thousands of Argentine fans at the Kansas City stadium repeatedly bowed to Messi, including when he was replaced by Nico Paz in the 80th minute.
Messi talks about tears after first goal on historic night
Lionel Messi appeared very emotional after scoring the first goal in the match against Algeria. He scored all three goals in Argentina's 3-0 victory.
"It has nothing to do with football, I've had some difficult days," Messi said of the emotional moment after the first goal, during which he barely held back tears.
"A completely non-sporting issue. I had a difficult and complicated few days."
Messi has praised his teammates, but also everyone else for the support they are giving him.
"I'm grateful for the whole delegation, for my teammates. They make a lot of effort to make sure I'm okay," Messi said.
No one has scored more goals in World Cups than Messi. Messi and Miroslav Klose have 16 each. But that number doesn't seem to matter much to the Argentine.
"It's an honor to be at the top of the list because of the importance it has. To be alongside Klose, those who are there. At the end of the day, they are just statistics and nothing more. Ronaldo (Nazario), from what I've seen, is one of the greatest, and he's not the first. Even Mbappe, who scored two goals for France," the superstar emphasized.
Messi also mentioned the famous tennis player Rafael Nadal in the conference.
"I'm enjoying this, I feel very good and happy on the court. I love football, it was my passion since I was a child and I always give my best. We're watching a series about Rafael Nadal at the moment and I feel like him, in the sense of giving everything and enjoying what he does."
Messi has also praised the Algerians.
"They have good players, they are dynamic. We tried to dominate the game, but we had difficulties with possession, as we usually do, especially in the first half. You can see in this World Cup that all the teams are well prepared. There are strong teams and nobody gives up easily."
Next Monday, Argentina plays Austria, and on June 28, they face Jordan. These will be matches in which Messi will aim for the record for most goals in the World Cup.
"100 percent it's a red card for Messi"
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina's match against Algeria on Wednesday morning. The Argentine superstar is now the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals, equalling Miroslav Klose.
But should Messi have been sent off for the match against Algeria? Some football fans claim that he was.
Even experts hired by ESPN have assessed that Messi deserved the red card for the tackle on Aissa Mandi.
"100 percent it's a red card for Messi," ESPN summarized the stance of two experts in the studio.
Messi kicked the Algerian from behind, while his heel was raised. After the tackle, Messi was seen worried, while he consoled the opposing player. But there was no card for the Argentine.
The intervention occurred after half an hour of play in the first half. So long before Messi scored the second and third goals of the match.
Referee Szymon Marciniak and VAR did not consider that Messi should be punished with a red or yellow card.
But some fans believe that no other player besides Messi would be treated with such "gentleness", writes "The Sun".
"It doesn't look good for football. Messi walking away without any punishment for a tackle that clearly deserves a red card. For this to happen on the biggest stage, it's shameful," wrote one fan on X.
"This could have easily been a red card. Expect the same for Ronaldo. It will be a set-up for them to play against each other," wrote another fan.
Another wrote that "I can't believe there was no card for this interference."
Even "The Athletic" in one of its articles asked whether Messi should have been sent off for the tackle.
The powerful media outlet wrote about the "special treatment" that the Argentinean received from referees on occasions during his career.
"What is certain is that between the first and second goals, he was lucky. A tackle on Algeria captain Aissa Mand, which was on the right pubic bone and the Algerian's Achilles tendon, could have been punished with at least a yellow card and possibly a red card. But the Polish referee, Szymon Marciniak, was content to award a penalty kick. It was a strange incident. Special treatment? At least it was a lenient decision. A yellow card would probably have been the most expected result, but some have also expected a red card. But Messi was certainly lucky to leave without being punished," writes "The Athletic".
VIDEO:
Messi just got away with an absolutely DISGUSTING challenge to an Algeria defenders leg.
Red card or not?pic.twitter.com/2ZU2B5j4oH— Banter FC (@FCBanter_) June 17, 2026
French legend Thierry Henry came to Messi's defense, saying that the entire action needs to be watched to draw conclusions.
Henry is surprised by the many reactions to the situation.
"I've had similar situations in football where there were no yellow cards, VAR interventions and people accepted the referee's decision immediately. And now, since it's about Messi, everyone becomes a refereeing expert. I'm not saying Messi should get special treatment. Absolutely not. The rules should be applied the same to everyone. But I'm saying that fans need to be a little more restrained. Not every tackle is a red card. Not every controversial moment is a scandal," said Henry, who is engaged as a football expert for the World Cup.
Historic night for Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi has had a brilliant start to the World Cup.
The soccer superstar scored a hat-trick in Argentina's victory over Algeria. Argentina won 3-0 in the match on Wednesday morning. The match was played in Kansas City and belonged to Group J.
Messi scored a superb goal in the 17th minute to make it 1-0. He added two more goals for one of the best nights of his amazing career. He scored for 2-0 in the 60th minute and for 3-0 in the 76th minute. It was his first hat-trick in the World Cup, where he is appearing for the sixth time.
Messi left the field in the 80th minute and left amidst loud applause and cheers from the fans.
He played his 200th match for Argentina, and now has 120 goals.
Messi has scored 16 goals in the World Cup. He shares the record for most goals with Germany's Miroslav Klose.
This is just the beginning for the Argentine phenomenon, however. With Messi on the pitch, Argentina is looking to defend their world title.
