Messi Becomes Joint World Cup All-Time Scorer with Hat Trick Against Algeria
Messi’s first World Cup hat trick moved him level with Miroslav Klose on 16 goals as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0.
- On Tuesday, Lionel Messi marked his 200th international appearance with a hat trick against Algeria, scoring his 118th goal to lead Argentina. The 39-year-old's performance was his first-ever hat trick at the World Cup.
- Earlier Tuesday, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland both announced their World Cup presence with two goals apiece. Mbappé helped France to a 3-1 win over Senegal, while Haaland netted two in Norway's 4-1 debut victory against Iraq.
- Mbappé's brace made him France's all-time leading scorer with 58 goals, while Messi became the first player to appear in six World Cups. Messi extended his record to 27 games played.
- France coach Didier Deschamps praised Mbappé as an 'iconic player' capable of tipping the scales with one action. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni called Messi 'fundamental' to the team's success.
- The tournament continues Wednesday as Cristiano Ronaldo aims to join the scoring leaders when Portugal plays Congo DR. Ronaldo has 143 international goals, currently ahead of Messi's tally.
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207 Articles
Lionel Messi's (38) tears after his opening goal for Argentina against Algeria were the result of concerns about his sick father Jorge. This is reported by news agency Reuters.
Associated Press News
World Cup hat tricks: Messi’s was the latest, an American scored the first and other key facts
At age 38 and playing in his sixth World Cup, Lionel Messi has his first hat trick in soccer’s biggest tournament and Argentina’s defense of the trophy is off to a flying start.
There is a luxury that only the chosen can give themselves: to take advantage of one milestone to mark another... Or others, rigorously, since it was not only one, but several records that Lionel Messi shot down with his remarkable presentation in Argentina's debut in the World Cup, in front of Algeria, in Kansas.At age 38, in his 10th game for the Albiceleste, La Pulga gave a masterful class of football, of contundity and, above all, of validit…
Last night’s World Cup 2026 left two exhibitions that can mark the history of the tournament. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé were decisive in the victories of Argentina and France against Algeria and Senegal, respectively, but they also staged a parallel battle that transcends this World Cup: the struggle to become the top scorer in the history of the World Cups. The Argentine was the great protagonist of the score of the current champion of the…
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