Lionel Messi rewrites history books at record sixth World Cup

Lionel Messi, just days shy of his 39th birthday, cemented his legendary status by not only becoming the first player to feature in a record sixth FIFA World Cup but also by scoring a stunning hat-trick on the 20th anniversary of his World Cup debut. The historic treble in Argentina's 3-0 opening victory over Algeria on June 16, 2026, at Kansas City Stadium, simultaneously drew him level with Germany's Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals. This unprecedented performance arrived precisely two decades after Messi, then an 18-year-old prodigy, netted his first World Cup goal against Serbia & Montenegro. It wasn't merely a personal milestone; the hat-trick, his first ever in a World Cup, propelled defending champions Argentina to a dominant start in Group J, silencing any lingering doubts about his form after a recent hamstring issue. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's 200th international appearance also overshadowed other star performances, including two-goal hauls from Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, underscoring his enduring, unparalleled impact on the global stage. As Argentina begins its campaign to become only the third nation to defend a World Cup title, all eyes will be on Messi as he stands on the cusp of outright owning the World Cup scoring record in their next Group J fixture against Austria on June 22. Meanwhile, rival Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to match Messi's six World Cup appearances when Portugal kicks off its tournament this week against DR Congo, setting up another chapter in their career-long, record-breaking rivalry. This World Cup is poised to be a swansong for both legends, making every match a potential historic moment.