Lionel Messi and this love story with the World Cup 2026 endures. The game’s most beloved player, Argentina’s most famous son, provided another golden performance as his first-ever World Cup hat-trick propelled Argentina towards a fourth star.
It can be easy to forget the pain and sorrow experienced on this brilliant Argentine’s gripping journey, before that outpouring of jubilation and the destiny of Doha in 2022. But beyond Kylian Mbappe’s super-charged France and the mesmerising Lamine Yamal’s Spain, Argentina’s dream of back-to-back titles burnt bright in the night sky of Kansas City in a 3-0 victory over an Algeria side blinded by this iconic No 10’s light.
More history was made at a Fifa World Cup with this maiden treble in what is Messi’s sixth tournament. This was also a 61st hat-trick in a career that refuses to fizzle out. An Argentine side, that threatened to grow stale in the intervening years since that glorious penalty shoot-out victory over France, now has three points to start Group J thanks to their little magician.
The former Barcelona superstar’s old box of tricks remains formidable, too, even at 38 years of age; notably with that brilliant third. It was also the perfect riposte after the heir to his throne, Mbappe, shone bright in New York as Les Bleus romped to a 3-1 victory after a storming second half against Senegal. If the France superstar already owns it on the pitch, then the aura surrounding Messi ensures, rather like an ancient pugilistic law to crowning the best: to be the champ, you’ve got to beat the champ. And while football cannot always guarantee that, a date in New Jersey on 19 July and a rematch remains alive, should both teams win their groups and navigate a treacherous knockout phase.
While lacking an obvious new generation, Argentina remain talented, with Lautaro Martinez, preferred to Julian Alvarez by Lionel Scaloni alongside Messi, any additional firepower, while Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez is among the more complete midfielders in the game. But their initial task remains beautifully simple, give the ball regularly to Messi in that inside right channel and watch with delight.
Nico Gonzalez understood the task, fizzing a ball across the penalty area to the Inter Miami forward, whose permanently cushioned touch killed the ball. Then two more dabs at the ball placed the ball beautifully on the outside of his left foot. There was danger for Algeria, clearly, and an inevitability about the sweeping finish that followed as the ball curled low into the bottom left corner to kill the game.
Withdrawn soon after in the 79th minute, Scaloni appeared to tease the adoring football public that watched a day six that ignited a tournament with star power. A fourth and outright record must wait, but Messi had still done plenty to overshadow two more superstars. Mbappe’s double had taken him up to fourth in the all-time top scorer chart at just 27 years of age, but another menace in front of goal announced himself on a new stage. In a maiden World Cup display, Erling Haaland inspired Norway to a 3-1 win over Iraq thanks to a brace.
Before this Argentina carnival atmosphere caught fire, though, Argentina were made to sweat, as Algeria briefly silenced this raucous atmosphere, with Arrowhead officially owning the Guinness World Record for the loudest crowd cheer at an outdoor sports stadium in 142.2 decibels. Fares Chaibi’s disguised finish inside the near post was chalked off by VAR.
Rodrigo De Paul dropped back in a manner befitting of this cathedral of sport’s most beloved athlete: quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The midfielder’s pass dissected Algeria, piercing their midfield and six bodies in total to find the feet of Messi. A quick turn and dash towards goal left Algeria scrambling and the powerful strike broke the deadlock, despite the meagre effort from Luca Zidane. It ensured Messi is now Argentina’s youngest and oldest goalscorer at a World Cup, having first left an indelible mark as an 18-year-old in 2006.
It was two on the hour mark when Alexis Mac Allister’s crisp strike bobbled up and out of Zidane’s grasp, gifting Messi a second, placed neatly inside the post from close range.
The anguish from the stands had long since evaporated and Argentina left the best until last, with Messi exclamation mark from the edge of the area.
Klose is now perilously clinging to his most famous moniker from his career and Messi may yet claim it for himself next Monday against Austria in Dallas. This was a delightful reminder of Messi’s ability to rewrite the script, but not just any script. Spoilt by his relentless brilliance at Barcelona, it has been the journey with Argentina that conjured a more potent emotional connection with the football world. Most were aware this would be the last ride on this grand stage, but this performance shows it could be his most compelling yet.
