By Chiagoziem Abosi
Edited by Bababunmi Agbebi
At 39, many footballers are winding down their careers. But for Lionel Messi, the story keeps getting better.
The Argentine captain produced a masterclass performance on Wednesday night, scoring the first World Cup hat-trick of his career as defending champions Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Messi scored all three goals in a dominant display that reminded football fans around the world why he remains one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen.
The hat-trick was particularly significant because it took Messi’s World Cup goal tally to 16, drawing level with German legend Miroslav Klose as the highest goalscorer in the history of the men’s FIFA World Cup.
The performance came during Argentina’s opening Group J fixture and instantly became one of the standout moments of the tournament so far.
Beyond the goals, Messi’s display carried emotional weight. The football star appeared emotional during and after the match amid concerns surrounding the health of his father, Jorge Messi, who is currently recovering from an undisclosed illness. The Messi family has requested privacy while he receives treatment.
For Argentina, the victory is the perfect start to their title defence. For Messi, it is yet another remarkable chapter in a career that continues to defy expectations.
With more games still to come in the tournament, the football world will now be watching to see whether the Argentine captain can move beyond Klose’s record and become the outright leading goalscorer in World Cup history.
