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Messi historic again – with tied goal record

From Svenska Dagbladet · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Lionel Messi achieved a historic feat by scoring a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria in the 2026 World Cup.
  • The performance tied him with Miroslav Klose for the all-time World Cup scoring record at 16 goals.
  • Messi also became the first player to participate in six World Cups, a record he held alone until Cristiano Ronaldo was expected to join him later that day.

Lionel Messi has once again made football history, this time with a spectacular hat-trick in Argentina's commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria in their 2026 World Cup opener. The iconic 38-year-old forward delivered a performance that not only secured a dream start for Argentina but also saw him reach a significant scoring milestone.

Messi's treble against Algeria brought his total World Cup goal count to 16, drawing him level with German legend Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in the tournament's history. This remarkable achievement underscores Messi's enduring impact on the sport and his consistent ability to perform on the grandest stage.

In addition to equaling the scoring record, Messi set another unique record by becoming the first footballer to participate in six World Cups. His journey spans the tournaments of 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026. He stood alone in this distinction until the eve of Portugal's match, when Cristiano Ronaldo was widely expected to join him in this exclusive club.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Svenska Dagbladet in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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