JAKARTA – Lionel Messi made history on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, early morning WIB, by equaling Miroslav Klose’s record for most goals in the World Cup with 16 goals after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria.
The hat-trick was Messi’s 11th in his international career, but his first at the World Cup. At 38, he became the oldest player to score three goals in a single match at the tournament.
He left the field at the end of the second half and was greeted with a standing ovation from Argentina supporters at GEHA Field, at Arrowhead Stadium.
“It was an honor to be there, to be alongside Klose and Ronaldo (Brazil), who were also there. But that doesn’t mean anything.”
“Kylian Mbappe is also there, he scored two goals today. In the end, it’s just statistics and nothing more. It’s an honor to compete with them, but it doesn’t mean anything.”
“For me, Ronaldo, who I watch and is one of the great players, is not at the top. So, it’s just statistics,” Messi said after the match.
When Messi took to the field for Argentina’s first match in the group stage – the 200th game with the Tango Team – he also became the first player to appear in six World Cups.
Messi broke the record of five World Cups held by Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Antonio Carbajal, Andres Guardado, and Rafael Marquez (all Mexico), and Lothar Matthaus (Germany).
Ronaldo is expected to equal the record in Portugal’s opening match against Congo on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
Messi gave Argentina an early lead in the first half with a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area. Then he scored two goals in the second half to complete a hat-trick and equalized Klose’s record with 16 goals for Germany. The Argentina captain cried after his first goal.
“Why am I crying? It has nothing to do with football. I’ve been through some difficult days, but I thank the whole delegation and my teammates because they’ve always been by my side, giving me a lot of strength to help me get through it,” said Messi.
The goals came exactly 20 years after Messi made his World Cup debut for Argentina in a match against Serbia-Montenegro. He also scored in that game and became the second player to score in five editions of the tournament.
Argentina’s victory also means Messi has equaled Klose’s record for most World Cup wins, 17.
It was Messi’s fifth consecutive World Cup game in which he scored, but there were doubts about his fitness ahead of the tournament after he was withdrawn early in his last MLS (Major League Soccer) game for Inter Miami in May 2026 due to muscle fatigue.
“I’m very happy to have gone through everything I’ve been through. What I’m experiencing now is the peak. I’m very happy and grateful for this amazing group, I’m really enjoying it,” said Messi.
Argentina is among the four teams that have made the Kansas City area their base. As is the case around the world, Messi fever has hit the area since the arrival of La Albiceleste about two weeks ago.
On match day, thousands of fans wearing his No. 10 jersey flocked to the Chiefs’ NFL headquarters on the outskirts of Kansas City, singing praises for their hero from Rosario.
Meanwhile, during a co-viewing event at the Power & Light District in downtown, a goat accompanied by former NFL quarterback turned Fox commentator Jameis Winston, took to the stage wearing an Argentina jersey.
The funny moment seemed to have been a sign of great things to come for Messi when he scored an hour later, and the argument that he is the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) of football is no longer up for debate with every World Cup goal he scores.
Messi’s hat-trick came on the day Erling Haaland and Mbappe both scored twice in wins for Norway and France, but the Argentine was not about to be outdone.
For his teammates, who have witnessed Messi’s heroic actions throughout their careers, the achievement is truly extraordinary and something they have been hoping for.
“It’s an advantage to have Leo because the way he handles the team and pushes it forward. He doesn’t care about individual records. He prioritizes the team. For us, it’s amazing,” said Rodrigo De Paul.
“There are no words to describe it. If anyone thinks this team is better without Leo, today proved the opposite.”
“He is our most important player. We need to build a team around him, and we are doing it,” Alexis Mac Allister added.
Argentina will face Austria in Dallas on June 22, 2026 local time before concluding the group stage against Jordan.
“The first World Cup match is always difficult. We saw that no one gave up so easily. This is a competitive World Cup with ready national teams,” Messi said.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language.
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