Argentina national team captain Lionel Messi produced a record-breaking performance in the early hours of Tuesday, scoring a hat-trick as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 at the Kansas City Stadium in their FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match.

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Messi opened the scoring in the first half before adding two further goals after the break, sealing a dominant victory for the South American champions.

The performance saw Messi set three major World Cup records, further cementing his status as one of football’s most decorated players.

He became the only player in World Cup history to score against 11 different national teams, surpassing the previous record of 10 held by Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazário and Germany’s Jürgen Klinsmann.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also became the oldest player to score multiple goals or a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup match at 38 years and 357 days, overtaking Cameroon icon Roger Milla.

In addition, the match marked Messi’s 200th international appearance for the Argentina national football team, making him the most capped player in the country’s history.

Argentina controlled proceedings with confidence and precision, delivering a performance that highlighted their attacking depth and tournament ambition.

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Messi will now look to maintain his remarkable form when Argentina face Austria in their next group fixture on Monday.