Lionel Messi opened his 2026 World Cup with a hat-trick against Algeria in the opening game of Group J, tying him for first on the all-time men's scoring list with 16 career goals in soccer's biggest tournament.

Messi’s hat-trick helped the defending Champions eased past Algeria 3-0. 

Seventeen minutes in, the 38-year-old delivered a stunning left-footed strike past Algeria goalkeeper Luka Zidane that temporarily leveled him with Kylian Mbappe for third on the all-time World Cup scoring list – with the Frenchman having scored two goals earlier in the day on June 16.

In the 60th minute, midfielder Alexis Mac Allister long's shot was saved by Zidane, but the rebound came sharply to Messi, who slotted home his second goal of the night. Messi completed his first career World Cup hat trick in the 76th minute, firing home another left-footed effort from the top of the penalty area.

Messi's 16th World Cup goal tied him with Germany's Miroslav Klose for the all-time men's World Cup record. He was removed from the game to a standing ovation after his third goal.

With his start today, Messi became the first player in history to appear in six World Cups – a mark that will be equaled by longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo just a day later.

Messi made his World Cup debut as a 19-year-old at the 2006 tournament in Germany and scored just the second international goal of his career at that World Cup. Messi was held without a goal at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, an Argentina team managed by Diego Maradona.

At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Messi scored four goals in the group stage but didn't find the net in the knockout stage as Argentina lost to Germany in the final, still being named the tournament's best player. Messi scored just one goal at the 2018 World Cup in Russia as Argentina fell in the Round of 16 to eventual champion France, and faced questions about his ability to win the big one for the national team.

That all changed in 2022, when Messi scored six goals – including two in the final – to win Argentina's third World Cup championship and first since 1986.

All-time World Cup top scorers

16 – Miroslav Klose, Germany
16 – Lionel Messi, Argentina
15 – Ronaldo, Brazil
14 – Gerd Muller, West Germany
14 – Kylian Mbappe, France
13 – Just Fontaine, France
12 – Pele, Brazil
11 – Sandor Kocsis, Hungary
11 – Jurgen Klinsmann, West Germany and Germany
10 – Helmut Rahn, West Germany
10 – Gary Lineker, England
10 – Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina
10 – Teofilo Cubillas, Peru
10 – Thomas Muller, Germany
10 – Grzergor Lato, Poland

Meanwhile, having made a winning start in Group J, Argentina next face matches against Austria and Jordan.

– with Agencies inputs --