The Argentine superstar delivered another historic performance, scoring a hat trick and tying the all-time FIFA World Cup goals record in a dominant victory over Algeria.
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| Image Source: Google | Image By: Al Jazeera |
Lionel Messi added another remarkable chapter to his legendary career on Wednesday.
The Argentina captain scored a hat trick in his nation's convincing World Cup victory over Algeria, tying the all-time FIFA World Cup goalscoring record in the process. At 39 years old, Messi continues to redefine longevity and greatness, producing one of the most memorable performances of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For a player who has already won nearly every major honor the sport has to offer, another historic milestone only strengthens his case as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
And perhaps the greatest.
Messi Delivers on the Biggest Stage Again
The World Cup has long served as the ultimate proving ground for soccer's biggest stars.
Once again, Messi rose to the occasion.
The Argentine icon found the net three times against Algeria, showcasing the finishing ability, vision, and composure that have defined his extraordinary career. Whether creating opportunities for teammates or producing moments of brilliance himself, Messi remained the focal point of Argentina's attack throughout the match.
His hat trick not only secured a comfortable victory but also placed him alongside one of the sport's most revered records.
Few players ever get close.
Messi has now reached it.
Argentina Looks Every Bit Like a Contender
While Messi's milestone dominated headlines, Argentina's overall performance was equally impressive.
The defending world champions controlled the match from start to finish, overwhelming Algeria with superior possession, creativity, and attacking quality. The victory further reinforced Argentina's status as one of the favorites to lift the trophy once again.
When Messi is playing at this level, Argentina becomes exceptionally difficult to stop.
The supporting cast continues to provide balance throughout the lineup, but the captain remains the engine driving the team's success.
That's been true for nearly two decades.
It remains true today.
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| Image Source: Google | Image By: SportsNet |
Chasing More History
Tying the World Cup goals record is a remarkable accomplishment on its own.
But the story may not be finished.
With Argentina still alive in the tournament, Messi now has additional opportunities to break the record outright and further separate himself in the history books. Considering the form he displayed against Algeria, few would be surprised to see him achieve exactly that.
From an opinion standpoint, what makes this accomplishment most impressive is the timing.
Most players are long retired by this stage of their careers.
Messi is still producing world-class performances against elite international competition.
That's extraordinarily rare.
The GOAT Debate Gets Another Chapter
Every major Messi achievement inevitably reignites discussions about the greatest player in soccer history.
While opinions will always differ, performances like this make the argument increasingly compelling. Winning a World Cup, maintaining elite production into his late 30s, and continuing to break records on the sport's biggest stage are accomplishments few athletes in any sport can match.
The résumé was already historic.
Now it's becoming nearly impossible to replicate.
LIONEL MESSI ARE YOU SERIOUS??? 🤯
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 17, 2026
HIS FIRST CAREER HAT TRICK IN THE WORLD CUP 🔥
He's now TIED for the most goals in World Cup HISTORY
(via @foxsports) pic.twitter.com/hPeFD87AaH
Looking Ahead
Lionel Messi entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup with nothing left to prove.
Yet he continues proving more.
His hat trick against Algeria helped Argentina secure another important victory while tying the all-time World Cup goalscoring record. With more matches still ahead, the possibility of breaking that record outright remains very real.
For Argentina, that's excellent news.
For the rest of the tournament field, it's a reminder that one of the greatest players ever is still capable of taking over the biggest games in the world.
And that's a dangerous reality for every opponent left standing.
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