KANSAS CITY — Lionel Messi’s magnificent hat-trick against Algeria at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ saw him equal Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals.
The Argentina captain also drew level with another Klose benchmark at the global finals: the German’s record 17 World Cup victories.
At the age of 38 years and 357 days, Messi has become the oldest hat-trick scorer in World Cup history. The previous oldest was Cristiano Ronaldo who was 33 years and 130 days when he scored a treble against Spain in 2018. Messi was already Argentina’s leading marksmen in the World Cup. He is followed by Gabriel Batistuta (10), Diego Maradona (8), Guillermo Stabile (8), Mario Kempes (6) and Gonzalo Higuain (5).
His hat-trick against Algeria also saw him become the highest-scoring South American at the global finals, surpassing Brazil legend Ronaldo (15).
With two goals from distance in Kansas City, Messi added his fifth and sixth World Cup strikes from outside the area. In doing so, he surpassed the previous record set by Brazil legend Rivellino (5). The Albiceleste icon’s previous long-range goals came against Bosnia and Herzegovina, IR Iran and Nigeria in 2014, and Mexico in 2022.
Messi is the only man to have played in six editions of the World Cup, although Cristiano Ronaldo is poised to take a share in that record on 17 June. Previously, they had co-owned it with Antonio Carbajal, Lothar Matthaus, Rafa Marquez and Andres Guardado.
Messi has completed the most dribbles in World Cup history. His 46 successful take-ons at Brazil 2014 is the third most in one edition. Jairzinho pulled off 47 at Mexico 1970, while Maradona managed 53 at Mexico 1986.
Messi made his 26th World Cup appearance in the Qatar 2022 final, breaking Matthaus’s record, and his 27th in the 2026 opener against Algeria. Becoming the first man to reach 30 appearances in the competition is within his reach.
Messi has made a record 20 appearances as captain in the World Cup. He is followed by Rafa Marquez (17) and Diego Maradona (16).
He has played the most minutes in World Cup history: 2,404. He broke Paolo Maldini’s record of 2,217 minutes in the Qatar 2022 final.
Messi is the only player to register an assist in five World Cups. His closest challengers are Pele, Grzegorz Lato, Diego Maradona and David Beckham, who set up goals in three editions apiece. Pele and Messi have registered the most assists in the knockout phase (6). They also co-own the record for the most goal contributions (21).
Messi is the only man to score in the group stage, last 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final of one World Cup, achieving the feat at Lusail Stadium.
Messi is the only player to score in the World Cup in his teens, 20s and 30s. Pele missed out on accomplishing the same by four months. Messi scored his first and latest World Cup goals exactly 20 years apart – another record. The next biggest span in World Cup history belongs to Cristiano Ronaldo at 16 years and 160 days.
The Player of the Match, first awarded in 2002, has been given to Messi an unequalled 12 times. His four at Brazil 2014 is a record for one edition he shares with Wesley Sneijder, who received the same at South Africa 2010.
Messi is the player to have pocketed multiple adidas Golden Balls, doing so at Brazil 2014 and Qatar 2022.
Information and Photos Courtesy of FIFA
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