{"id":82749,"date":"2026-06-17T01:17:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T05:17:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/messi-scores-hat-trick-at-38-ties-all-time-world-cup-scoring-record\/"},"modified":"2026-06-17T01:17:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T05:17:28","slug":"messi-scores-hat-trick-at-38-ties-all-time-world-cup-scoring-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/messi-scores-hat-trick-at-38-ties-all-time-world-cup-scoring-record\/","title":{"rendered":"Messi Scores Hat-Trick at 38, Ties All-Time World Cup Scoring Record"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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KANSAS CITY, Missouri \u2014 Lionel Messi made a powerful statement Tuesday night, scoring three goals to lead Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in World Cup action, putting to rest any questions about whether the 38-year-old legend still has what it takes at the highest level.<\/p>

The performance came just one day after Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni declared that Messi was “even more” vital to the defending champions than ever before \u2014 and Messi wasted no time proving him right.<\/p>

The milestone-filled evening included Messi tying Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 goals, giving him a share of the all-time men’s scoring mark at the World Cup. It also marked his record sixth World Cup appearance and his 200th cap for the Argentine national team \u2014 all of it coming exactly 20 years after he scored his very first World Cup goal.<\/p>

Messi’s impact was felt from nearly the opening whistle. In just the second minute, he stripped Algeria of possession deep in their own territory, a moment that foreshadowed the intensity he would bring throughout the match. Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul assisted on Messi’s first goal in the 17th minute and spoke glowingly of his teammate afterward.<\/p>

“It’s an advantage to have Leo, because of how he manages the group and drives it forward,” De Paul said. “He doesn’t pay attention to individual records. He prioritises the team, and for us that’s incredible.”<\/p>

The night carried added emotional weight given that this World Cup \u2014 hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada \u2014 is widely expected to be Messi’s last. Argentine supporters inside the Kansas City stadium expressed their reverence openly, bowing repeatedly in his direction throughout the match. When Messi was substituted out for Nico Paz in the 80th minute, the crowd’s reaction was no less enthusiastic. The day before, fans had gathered at Mill Creek Park wearing shirts that read “Messiah.”<\/p>

The match was played in a venue where Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has long been a fan favorite \u2014 but Tuesday night, Mahomes himself was in the stands watching Messi. The NFL star took to social media to share a video of the Argentine along with a goat emoji, a widely recognized symbol meaning “greatest of all time.”<\/p>

Messi arrived at the tournament still recovering from a muscle strain and had only recently been eased back into game action. His three-goal night erased any lingering concerns about his physical condition.<\/p>

Coach Scaloni was at a loss for words when asked to describe what he witnessed. “Speechless for Leo. What can I say? He’s incredible. He’s been doing this for 20 years. Everyone in soccer wants to watch him and enjoys it,” Scaloni said after the final whistle.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lionel Messi delivered a stunning three-goal performance as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in a World Cup match played in Kansas City, Missouri. The 38-year-old star tied the all-time men’s World Cup scoring record with 16 goals, matching Miroslav Klose. The performance silenced doubts about Messi’s fitness and underscored his continued importance to the reigning champions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":82748,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[836],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-82749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781673448685.jpg?fit=450%2C296&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-lwF","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":82729,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/messi-hat-trick-ties-world-cup-scoring-record-in-argentinas-3-0-win-over-algeria\/","url_meta":{"origin":82749,"position":0},"title":"Messi Hat-Trick Ties World Cup Scoring Record in Argentina’s 3-0 Win Over Algeria","author":"Admin","date":"June 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Lionel Messi scored three goals to tie the all-time World Cup scoring record as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in Kansas City on Tuesday. The 38-year-old superstar matched Germany's Miroslav Klose with 16 World Cup goals and became the oldest player ever to score a hat-trick at the tournament. Argentina's title\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781669865640.jpg?fit=450%2C304&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":82718,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/messi-ties-mens-world-cup-all-time-scoring-record-with-hat-trick\/","url_meta":{"origin":82749,"position":1},"title":"Messi Ties Men’s World Cup All-Time Scoring Record with Hat-Trick","author":"Admin","date":"June 16, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Lionel Messi tied the all-time men's World Cup scoring record during Argentina's opening match against Algeria on Tuesday. The soccer superstar scored three goals in the game, bringing his career World Cup total to 16 \u2014 matching the record previously held by former Germany striker Miroslav Klose.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781666208165.jpg?fit=450%2C282&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":77529,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/messi-may-return-for-argentina-friendlies-despite-hamstring-injury\/","url_meta":{"origin":82749,"position":2},"title":"Messi May Return for Argentina Friendlies Despite Hamstring Injury","author":"Admin","date":"June 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Soccer superstar Lionel Messi is recovering from a left hamstring injury and could see action in Argentina's upcoming exhibition games. The team's manager says Messi has been training with the squad and may get playing time in one of two friendlies before the World Cup.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780716147141.jpg?fit=450%2C304&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":71796,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/lionel-messi-injured-just-weeks-before-world-cup-tournament-begins\/","url_meta":{"origin":82749,"position":3},"title":"Lionel Messi Injured Just Weeks Before World Cup Tournament Begins","author":"Admin","date":"May 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi sustained a hamstring injury during his final club match before the World Cup. The 38-year-old was pulled from Inter Miami's game against Philadelphia Union after experiencing muscle fatigue.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779751337923.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":44747,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/messi-set-to-start-in-argentinas-friendly-match-against-zambia-tuesday\/","url_meta":{"origin":82749,"position":4},"title":"Messi Set to Start in Argentina’s Friendly Match Against Zambia Tuesday","author":"Admin","date":"March 30, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Soccer superstar Lionel Messi will be in Argentina's starting lineup for Tuesday's friendly match against Zambia. The game serves as preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, where Argentina will defend their championship title.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774906654695.jpg?fit=450%2C304&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":71564,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/messi-leaves-final-pre-world-cup-match-early-with-apparent-thigh-issue\/","url_meta":{"origin":82749,"position":5},"title":"Messi Leaves Final Pre-World Cup Match Early With Apparent Thigh Issue","author":"Admin","date":"May 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Lionel Messi was pulled from Inter Miami's match in the 73rd minute after grabbing his thigh following a free kick. 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