Reigning world champions Argentina began their World Cup campaign with a comprehensive victory over Algeria, securing a 3–0 win in their Group J fixture at Concas City Stadium. All three goals for Argentina were scored by Lionel Messi, whose performance proved decisive in establishing an early advantage for his side in the tournament.
The match marked a significant milestone in Messi’s career, as he registered his first-ever hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup match. This achievement also enabled the Argentine forward to set a new record for the oldest player to score a hat-trick in World Cup history. In doing so, he surpassed the previous record held by Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo had set the earlier benchmark during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where he scored a hat-trick against Spain at the age of 33 years and 130 days. Messi has now exceeded that age at the time of recording his hat-trick, thereby establishing a new record in this category. The exact age figure for Messi at the time of the match is not specified in the provided information, but it is confirmed to be higher than Ronaldo’s record-setting age.
In addition to this World Cup milestone, Messi also achieved a new record in international football. His three goals against Algeria brought his total number of international hat-tricks to 11. Prior to this match, Messi and Ronaldo jointly held the record for the most international hat-tricks, with 10 each. With this latest performance, Messi has moved ahead to become the sole holder of this distinction.
The result not only reflects Argentina’s strong start in the group stage but also underscores Messi’s continued influence at the highest level of international football. His contribution accounted for all goals in the match, directly determining the outcome and securing three points for his team.
A comparative summary of the relevant records is presented below:
| Record Category | Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo |
|---|---|---|
| World Cup hat-tricks | 1 | 1 |
| Age at World Cup hat-trick | Higher than 33 years 130 days | 33 years 130 days |
| Total international hat-tricks | 11 | 10 |
| Record status (international hat-tricks) | Sole holder | Former joint holder |
This match represents both a successful opening for Argentina in Group J and a notable advancement in Messi’s individual record.