17/06/2026 07:39 - Deportes
Un futbolista argentino con la camiseta albiceleste número 10 celebrando un gol con los brazos abiertos en un estadio repleto, con la Copa del Mundo de fondo, iluminación dramática y confeti cayendo del cielo, atmósfera de victoria histórica
The June 16, 2026 will be forever etched in the golden pages of world football. Lionel Messi not only debuted in his sixth World Cup but did so spectacularly: scoring a hat-trick (3 goals) against Algeria at the Kansas City Stadium and breaking multiple historical records that seemed unreachable.
The captain of the Argentina National Team became the first player in history to participate in six editions of the World Cup, a feat demonstrating his longevity and unbreakable passion for football. For international readers, Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and this achievement cements his legendary status further.
He became the first player to reach 200 matches with his national team during a World Cup match. A monumental milestone in international football.
First footballer to play in six World Cups: Germany 2006, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022, and now the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Equaled Miroslav Klose (Germany) as the all-time top scorer of the World Cup, reaching 16 goals in his tournament career.
Became the only player to score against eleven different national teams in World Cups, surpassing legends like Klinsmann, Ronaldo, and Klose.
Extended his record of 24 consecutive matches played with Argentina in World Cups, surpassing the historic mark of 23 matches by Paolo Maldini (Italy).
Surpassed Roberto Rivelino (Brazil) as the player with most long-range goals in World Cups: 6 goals from outside the area.
The hat-trick (three goals in a single game) against Algeria capped off a magical night. The goals came in the minutes 16', 59', and 75', showing that at 38 years, 11 months, and 21 days, Messi remains a decisive player in elite football.
With this treble, Messi became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup, shattering all previous longevity records.
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| Longest Gap Between First and Last Goal | Exactly 20 years (2006-2026), surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo (16 years) and Miroslav Klose (12 years). |
| Goals in 5 Different World Cups | Equaled Cristiano Ronaldo: 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026. |
| Direct Goal Involvements | 24 (16 goals + 8 assists), surpassing Pelé (22). |
| Most World Cup Matches | 27 total matches, the player with the most appearances in tournament history. |
The football legend has scored goals against eleven different national teams in the World Cup:
Argentina faced Algeria in their debut match of Group J of the 2026 World Cup at the Kansas City Stadium, with a capacity of 70,000 spectators and known as the loudest stadium in the world according to Guinness World Records.
The referee was Polish official Szymon Marciniak, the same who officiated the Qatar 2022 World Cup Final. Argentina arrived as FIFA Rank #1 with 1877.27 points, while Algeria held the #27 position with 1571.03 points.
Messi's debut in the 2026 World Cup occurred exactly 20 years after his first World Cup match with a goal against Serbia in Germany 2006. Since then, the Argentina National Team has not played a World Cup game without Messi since the 2006 quarter-finals against Germany.
This extraordinary continuity demonstrates not only his exceptional talent but also his physical and mental capacity to maintain himself at the highest level of international football for two decades.
Sources: El Gráfico | AFA
Alfredo S. Quiroga
