Lionel Messi scores hat trick in World Cup opener against Algeria
ESPN Soccer • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 17, 2026, 3:39 AM
Last updated Jun 17, 2026
Lionel Messi scored a hat trick for Argentina in their 2026 World Cup opener against Algeria, leading his team to a 3-0 victory. This hat trick marks Messi's first in World Cup history, coming exactly 20 years after he scored his first tournament goal in 2006. A total of 50 players have scored hat tricks in World Cup history, with Messi joining their ranks. The 2026 tournament has seen Messi's notable achievement added to a historic list of hat tricks, including performances from legends like Pele and Ronaldo.
- •Messi's hat trick is his first in World Cup competition.
- •Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in the group stage.
- •Messi's first World Cup goal was in 2006.
- •A total of 51 players have scored World Cup hat tricks.
- •The 2026 tournament continues a rich history of goal-scoring feats.
- 4:06 AMESPN Soccer — 🎩 Who have scored men's World Cup hat tricks?
- 3:57 AMYahoo Sports — World Cup hat trick notable stats: Who made history with Lionel Messi?
- 3:16 AMYahoo Sports — Hat tricks in World Cup: Full list of players to score three goals in tournament history as Lionel Messi nets treble in 2026 World Cup opener
"Scoring a hat trick at the World Cup as good as it gets for a footballer, and it took Lionel Messi 20 years to discover the feeling.
"Lionel Messi was the most recent player to score a hat trick in the World Cup. See who else joins him on the list in history.
"Lionel Messi scored his first World Cup hat trick to tie the record for most goals netted in the men's World Cup.
Sources
External links- ESPN SoccerJun 17, 2026, 4:06 AM🎩 Who have scored men's World Cup hat tricks?
Lionel Messi was the most recent player to score a hat trick in the World Cup. See who else joins him on the list in history.
- Yahoo SportsJun 17, 2026, 3:57 AMWorld Cup hat trick notable stats: Who made history with Lionel Messi?
Lionel Messi scored his first World Cup hat trick to tie the record for most goals netted in the men's World Cup.
- Yahoo SportsJun 17, 2026, 3:16 AMHat tricks in World Cup: Full list of players to score three goals in tournament history as Lionel Messi nets treble in 2026 World Cup opener
Scoring a hat trick at the World Cup as good as it gets for a footballer, and it took Lionel Messi 20 years to discover the feeling.
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
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