Lionel Messi becomes the oldest player to score multiple goals at the 2026 World Cup

Lionel Messi added another record to his glittering career on Wednesday after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s opening match at the 2026 World Cup against Algeria.

The Argentina captain opened the scoring with a stunning long-range strike before taking advantage of an error from Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane to double Kansas City’s lead. He later completed his first ever World Cup hat-trick.

At 38 years and 357 days, Messi also became the oldest player to score multiple goals in a FIFA World Cup match, surpassing Cameroonian great Roger Milla.

Published on June 17, 2026