Kansas City, Jun 17: Lionel Messi delivered a historic performance Tuesday night, scoring a sensational hat-trick to lead Argentina to a 3‑0 victory over Algeria at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

With those three goals, Messi tied Germany great Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals, cementing his place among the tournament’s greatest scorers.

The hat-trick was his 11th for Argentina, but notably his first at a World Cup, making him the oldest player ever to score three in a single match at the tournament.

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Messi’s impact extended beyond goals. By stepping onto the pitch, he became the first player to feature in six World Cups, marking his 200th appearance for Argentina. Cristiano Ronaldo, Antonio Carbajal, Andrés Guardado, Rafael Márquez, and Lothar Matthäus have five World Cup appearances to their names.

However, Ronaldo is expected to equal the six‑World Cup milestone in Portugal’s opener against Congo, but Messi claimed the distinction first.

Argentina’s victory also meant Messi tied Klose again — this time for most World Cup wins at 17. With Argentina set to face Austria next in Dallas on June 22, Messi’s pursuit of outright records promises more history in the making.

Historic Feats

On Tuesday, Kylian Mbappé once again etched his name into football history. Already France’s youngest FIFA World Cup goal‑scorer, the 27‑year‑old forward became his country’s all‑time leading scorer with 58 international goals.

“I play to make my mark on my country’s history, to ensure my team reaches the final and wins the World Cup. Records will simply be part of my career,” Mbappé said after the match, emphasizing his focus on team success over personal milestones.

Mbappé delivered a dazzling brace to inspire Les Bleus to a thrilling 3‑1 victory over Senegal at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, kick‑starting France’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign. His first strike — a stunning long‑range effort — sealed his place in the record books, while Bradley Barcola and Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye had earlier traded goals in a dramatic finish.

With 14 World Cup goals, Mbappé now edges closer to Miroslav Klose’s all‑time record of 16 goals in World Cup finals, setting up another historic chase.

Meanwhile, Senegal’s teenage sensation Ibrahim Mbaye also made history, becoming the youngest World Cup scorer for an African nation at just 18 years and 142 days, thanks to his composed finish against France.