Kansas City: Messi equals men’s World Cup scoring record
PUBLISHED Jun 17, 2026, 5:18 AM ET
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KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Lionel Messi scored a hat trick on Tuesday night as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in its World Cup opener at Arrowhead Stadium, tying Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the men’s World Cup career scoring record. Messi now has 16 goals in six World Cup appearances, matching Klose’s mark, and reached the milestone in a match that also marked his 200th international appearance for Argentina. He opened the scoring early after collecting a pass from national and Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, then used his jersey to wipe his eyes in an emotional celebration after giving Argentina the lead. Messi later said his reaction reflected difficult days away from football and he thanked his teammates, coaches, and the delegation for their support. Messi added his second goal early in the second half by converting a rebound, then completed the hat trick with a left-footed strike shortly before being substituted, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd of 69,045. The performance came despite a recent minor hamstring injury sustained while playing for Inter Miami; after being limited to 20 minutes and a penalty goal in a tuneup against Iceland last week, he started against Algeria and played without visible restriction. Argentina, the defending World Cup champion, is seeking to become the third men’s team to win back-to-back titles, and Messi’s 200th cap places him behind only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Kuwait’s Bader al-Mutawa in men’s international appearances. Messi and Ronaldo are the only men to have scored in five World Cups.
By Emily Rhodes | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- Last week Messi plays 20 minutes, scores penalty
- Tuesday Argentina faces Algeria in World Cup opener
- Tuesday Messi scores early after De Paul assist
- Tuesday Second-half rebound brings Messi’s second
- Tuesday Left-footed strike completes Argentina hat trick
- Tuesday Hat trick ties Messi with Miroslav Klose
- Tuesday Match marks Messi’s 200th Argentina appearance
- Tuesday Crowd of 69,045 gives standing ovation
News Intelligence
- Messi's record-tying performance is a testament to his enduring skill and dedication. It's a reminder that age is just a number in sports. If you're a soccer fan, it's a historic moment to witness. If you're a parent, it's a teachable moment about perseverance and passion.
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