Lionel Messi’s Historic Hat-Trick Makes Him Oldest Player to Achieve Feat at FIFA World Cup

Lionel Messi added another chapter to his extraordinary career by becoming the oldest player in men's FIFA World Cup history to score a hat-trick, surpassing long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo during Argentina's opening match of the 2026 tournament.

The Argentine captain inspired defending champions Argentina to a convincing 3-0 victory over Algeria, delivering a performance that combined brilliance, efficiency and history-making milestones.

How Messi Broke Ronaldo's Record

At 38 years and 357 days old, Messi became the oldest player ever to score a hat-trick at a men's FIFA World Cup. The record was previously held by Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a memorable hat-trick against Spain during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia at the age of 33.

Messi also became the oldest player in World Cup history to register both a brace and a hat-trick, further underlining the longevity of his excellence on football's biggest stage.

A Hat-Trick Showcasing Every Side of Messi's Game

The three goals highlighted different aspects of Messi's attacking brilliance.

His first arrived in the 17th minute when he unleashed a powerful long-range strike after a quick free-kick taken by Rodrigo De Paul.

The second came from close range after a rebound fell kindly to him inside the penalty area following an effort from Alexis Mac Allister.

Messi completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, starting the move himself with a trademark dribble before finishing with a composed curling effort.

The performance came in his 200th appearance for Argentina, making the occasion even more memorable.

Messi Draws Level with Miroslav Klose

Beyond the age-related records, Messi also climbed to the summit of the World Cup scoring charts.

His three goals took his World Cup tally to 16, drawing level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose for the most goals in the tournament's history.

In the process, Messi moved ahead of Brazil great Ronaldo, who scored 15 World Cup goals, while also surpassing Germany's Gerd Muller and France star Kylian Mbappe, both of whom had previously stood on 14 goals.

Mbappe had equalled Muller's tally earlier in the day after scoring twice in France's 3-1 victory over Senegal.

A Perfect Anniversary

Adding further significance to the achievement, Messi's hat-trick came exactly 20 years after his first World Cup goal.

That breakthrough strike arrived during Argentina's 6-0 victory over Serbia at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Two decades later, the Argentine icon once again found himself at the centre of a historic World Cup moment.

Why This Performance Matters

Messi entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup already regarded as one of the greatest players in football history. His latest display demonstrated that, even at 38, he remains capable of dominating the sport's biggest stage.

By breaking Cristiano Ronaldo's age record, equalling Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup goals mark and delivering a match-winning hat-trick in Argentina's opening game, Messi has ensured that the defence of Argentina's world title has begun in the most emphatic fashion possible.

(With inputs from ANI)