Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020

Lionel Messi World Cup goal record talk surged again after the Argentina captain scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City on Tuesday, drawing level with Germany great Miroslav Klose on 16 goals in the men’s FIFA World Cup.

The 38-year-old delivered his first World Cup hat-trick as Argentina opened its 2026 campaign with a controlled Group J victory. His finishing carried the defending champions through a match they largely managed with calm possession and sharp movement in the final third.

For more World Cup coverage, read Messi Ronaldo World Cup 2026 Meeting Path Explained. Fans can also follow tournament updates through the official FIFA World Cup page.

Messi joins Klose at the top

Messi’s three goals lifted him to 16 World Cup goals, matching Klose’s long-standing record for the most goals in men’s tournament history.

Klose set the mark across four World Cups for Germany, with his final tournament goal coming in the 2014 semi-final win over Brazil. Messi now has a chance to move clear when Argentina faces Austria on June 22.

Argentina make a strong opening statement

Argentina looked settled from the start, using midfield control to keep Algeria pinned back for long spells. Messi’s movement between the lines gave Algeria problems, and his late runs into scoring areas gave Argentina the cutting edge.

Algeria had moments of pressure, but Argentina’s defence stayed compact and avoided the type of breakdowns that can shift a World Cup opener. Once Messi completed his hat-trick, the night became as much about history as the result.

The win places Argentina in early control of Group J and gives Lionel Scaloni’s side a strong platform in its title defence. For Messi, the next match could bring the goal that takes him beyond Klose and into a record of his own.