Lionel Messi scored a hat trick in Argentina’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup against Algeria, bringing his total World Cup goals to 16. This achievement ties him with Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in the tournament’s history. The match marked the first game of the 2026 World Cup for both teams. Messi’s three goals were instrumental in securing a win for Argentina. This performance further solidifies Messi’s legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time. The game took place on the first day of the tournament, setting a high bar for competition. Details regarding the final score and other game specifics were not provided in the initial report.