History has been rewritten on soccer’s grandest stage. In a breathtaking opening match for the reigning world champions, Lionel Messi launched Argentina’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign by shattering a historic tournament record previously held by his longtime rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. With a masterclass performance in Argentina’s 3–0 victory over Algeria, Lionel Messi officially became the oldest player in FIFA World Cup history to score a hat-trick.
This remarkable milestone eclipses the previous benchmark set by Cristiano Ronaldo, who was 33 years old when he bagged a legendary treble against Spain during the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The historic treble unfolded beautifully, beginning with a trademark, thunderous long-range strike in the 17th minute, followed by a rebound finish in the 60th minute, and finally sealed in the 76th minute with a clinical first-touch strike off a clever back pass from Nicolas Gonzalez!
By stepping onto the pitch for the Group J opener, Messi also became the first male football player in history to appear in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments. Furthermore, his three-goals carried massive implications for the all-time tournament charts, elevating him to 16 total World Cup goals and 17 career tournament victories.
