KUCHING: Twenty years after scoring his first World Cup goal, Lionel Messi produced another unforgettable chapter in his remarkable career, firing Argentina to a 3–0 victory over Algeria — drawing level with Miroslav Klose’s all-time scoring record.
The Argentina captain struck a dazzling hat-trick in Kansas City to move onto 16 World Cup goals, matching the mark set by the German great and moving within touching distance of owning the record outright.
It was a night filled with milestones for the 38-year-old.
When the match kicked off, Messi became the first player in history to feature at six World Cup tournaments. It was also his 200th appearance for Argentina, further cementing his place among the game’s most enduring icons.
Yet the occasion belonged to his football.
Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute after collecting a perfectly weighted pass from Rodrigo De Paul before driving towards goal and unleashing a fierce strike from distance that beat goalkeeper Luca Zidane despite getting a hand to the ball.
The reigning world champions controlled much of the contest, with Messi orchestrating attacks and repeatedly finding space between the Algerian lines.
Although Algeria enjoyed a brief spell before half-time and forced Emiliano Martínez into action through Fares Chaibi, Argentina rarely looked troubled.
Messi came close to doubling his tally shortly after the restart before eventually doing so in the 60th minute.
Alexis Mac Allister’s powerful effort proved too hot for Zidane to handle and the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner reacted quickest to sweep home the rebound.
With history beckoning, the crowd sensed another special moment.
It arrived in the 76th minute when substitute Nico González picked out Messi, who calmly applied the finishing touch to complete the first World Cup hat-trick of his illustrious career.
The feat also made him the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick and the first footballer to score against 11 different nations in the tournament’s history.
Moments later, Lionel Scaloni withdrew his captain to a standing ovation, denying supporters the chance to witness a fourth goal that would have seen him move clear of Klose.
It mattered little.
Argentina had begun their title defence with an emphatic victory, while their captain once again found a way to make history.
From Germany in 2006 to North America in 2026, Messi’s World Cup journey has now spanned two decades.
And with the scoring record finally within reach, football’s greatest stage may yet have another chapter left in its most enduring story.
The 2026 World Cup journey has only begun.
