![Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates scoring their second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match against Algeria in Kansas City, Missouri, US, on June 16, 2026 [Amy Kontras/EPA]](https://i0.wp.com/neoprimesport.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/epa_6a3211a6b898-1781666214.webp?resize=678%2C381&ssl=1 "epa_6a3211a6b898-1781666214")
Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 as Lionel Messi scores his first ever World Cup hat-trick!
Argentina’s superstar, Lionel Messi, broke all the records at the FIFA World Cup today and the best player of all-time scored his first ever tournament hat-trick as Argentina thrashed Algeria 3-0 in his sixth World Cup.
The 38 year-old made history as soon as he walked out on to the field at Kansas City Stadium Tuesday night on his 200th cap.
As soon as Messi was confirmed in Argentina’s starting eleven, he became the first man to play in six World Cups which he will have to share with Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal on Wednesday. It will be an even bigger milestone if veteran Mexico goalkeeper, Guillermo Ochoa, is called on during the tournament.
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At 17 minutes he got his first of the night, equalling Kylian Mbappe’s record of 14 World Cup goals; earlier this evening Mbappe had overtaken the Argentinian just a few hours earlier following France’s 3-1 triumph against Senegal, here in New York.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s fairy tale start to his sixth tournament was slightly held up though when his first in the fourth minute was disallowed by the referee. The magician still did work though, putting one in the right hand side of goal after Algerian keeper Luca Zidane had made the mistake in not tidying up the rebound.
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That takes Messi’s World Cup goal count to 15. Messi’s legacy in the World Cup started almost two decades ago, he is only 18 years of age and he made his first appearance at the tournament back in 2006 which was the same year Zinedine Zidane, his father and French legend, had his best tournament.
Argentina’s all-time top-scorer is just the third man to reach 200 caps after Cristiano Ronaldo and Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.
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Group J
|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Argentina
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
–
–
–
–
|
|
| 2 |
 Austria
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
–
–
–
–
–
|
|
| 3 |
 Jordan
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
–
–
–
–
–
|
|
| 4 |
 Algeria
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
–
–
–
–
|
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