He cried. For the first time at a World Cup, after all the near-misses and heartbreaks and a 2022 title that was supposed to be the full stop — Lionel Messi wept. The tears came at the 17th minute inside Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, moments after a left-footed strike kissed the top-right corner to open his account against Algeria. By the time he was substituted off to a standing ovation with 14 minutes left to play, Messi had scored three goals, drawn level with Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup scoring record of 16, and given the world yet another moment it will never forget.
Argentina won 3–0. The defending champions are up and running in Group B. And the man who has defined football for twenty years did something on June 16, 2026 that no player in the 96-year history of the World Cup had ever done before: scored a hat-trick in his sixth different tournament, on the 20th anniversary of the day he first appeared at one.
The Hat-Trick, Goal by Goal
Rodrigo De Paul found Messi on the right edge of the area with a perfectly weighted through ball. One touch to control. One look up. Then a whipped, first-time left-foot finish that curled past keeper Luca Zidane — son of Zinedine — and nestled into the top right corner. The stadium erupted. So did Messi. He ran toward the corner flag, dropped to his knees, and covered his face as teammates piled on. His 14th World Cup goal. The tears were real.
Alexis Mac Allister drove a low shot toward the near post that Zidane managed to parry — straight into the path of an arriving Messi at the six-yard box. Right foot, tap-in, no goalkeeper in the world saves that. It was his 15th World Cup goal, equalling Ronaldo's record (the Brazilian, 2002) and putting him within touching distance of Klose. The crowd in Kansas City knew what was coming.
A moment of pure football artistry. Nico González played a quick one-two with Messi near the left channel of the box. Messi received it back, took one touch inside, and rolled a right-footed effort into the bottom left corner with the outside of his boot. 16 goals. Equal to Klose. The record was tied. He was substituted off moments later. Arrowhead gave him a minute-long standing ovation as he walked to the touchline. Scaloni hugged him for a long time.
Every Record Broken or Tied
One hat-trick. Nine records. Here is the full accounting of what Messi achieved on June 16, 2026:
Argentina, the Title Defense, and a Moment That Transcended Football
Argentina entered the 2026 World Cup as defending champions — the first South American nation to defend the title since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Ten of their starting eleven in Kansas City were part of the squad that lifted the trophy in Qatar. The system is the same. The belief is the same. And the captain is still, somehow, the best player in the world.
The 3–0 win over Algeria was Argentina's biggest World Cup opening-group-stage win since the USA's 4–0 win over Greece in 1994. The defending champions sent a message to every other contender that the holders are not here to fade quietly.
"I am at a loss for words about Leo. He is incredible. There is nothing more to say. We all know what he means — not just to this team, but to football." — Lionel Scaloni, Argentina Head Coach
"He's the most important player of all. We all know that. What he did tonight — the hat-trick, the record, the tears — it was something special to witness. To play alongside him is a privilege I'll never take for granted." — Alexis Mac Allister
"Class is permanent. Messi proved that again tonight. We were beaten by the greatest player in history. There is no shame in that." — Vladimir Petković, Algeria Head Coach
What's Next for Messi — and Argentina?
Lionel Messi turns 39 years old on June 24, 2026 — right in the middle of the World Cup group stage. He needs just one more goal to hold the all-time World Cup scoring record outright. History will be made the moment that goal goes in.
This is almost certainly Messi's final World Cup. He has never said it aloud, but the implication is unavoidable: he will be 43 by the time the 2030 tournament comes around, co-hosted by Argentina itself. A sixth tournament, one more record, and — if Argentina can defend — a back-to-back title that only Brazil (1958, 1962) and Italy (1934, 1938) have ever achieved. The possibility is real. The motivation is clear. The man is still at the top of his game.
Golden Boot Race After Matchday 1
Messi's hat-trick puts him immediately in pole position for the Golden Boot, but the race is fierce. Kylian Mbappé also scored twice for France on the same evening — taking his career total to 14 World Cup goals. Erling Haaland marked his World Cup debut for Norway with a brace as well, while England's Harry Kane and Brazil's Vinicius Jr. also found the net.
| Player | Nation | Goals (2026) | Career WC Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Lionel Messi | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 3 | 16 (= record) |
| 🥈 | Kylian Mbappé | 🇫🇷 France | 2 | 14 |
| 🥈 | Erling Haaland | 🇳🇴 Norway | 2 | 2 (debut) |
| Harry Kane | 🏴 England | 1 | 7 | |
| Vinicius Jr. | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 1 | 1 |
The Golden Boot race will run the length of the tournament, but few would bet against Messi being the man who lifts it in July. Whoever wins it, the 2026 World Cup has already declared its early protagonist.