Lionel Messi’s hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday further strengthened his record in football’s biggest tournament. The Argentina and Inter Miami captain equalled Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals and matched the German’s tally of 17 World Cup victories. Messi is now the only player in World Cup history to have scored against eleven different national teams. He surpassed the previous mark of ten held by Brazil’s Ronaldo Nazário and Germany’s Jürgen Klinsmann. At 38 years and 357 days old, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in World Cup history, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo, who achieved the feat at 33 years and 130 days against Spain in 2018. Here is the full rundown of the major World Cup records Messi already owns and those he continues to chase, according to FIFA on Wednesday. Messi’s latest exploits at the Kansas City Stadium reinforce his status as one of the greatest players in World Cup history, even as he enters the twilight of his international career.