What happened: Lionel Messi has opened the 2026 World Cup with four goals across two matches, netting once against Austria and completing a hat trick against Algeria. The output extends a run of nine World Cup appearances dating back to the 2022 tournament, where he scored in the final and lifted the trophy. He turns 39 on Wednesday.
Why it matters: Sustained scoring at this stage of his career underscores how Messi continues to anchor Argentina's title defense rather than fade into a supporting role. The hat trick against Algeria is a marker of form that few players approaching 39 have ever produced on this stage, building on his recent World Cup scoring milestone.
By the numbers: Messi's last nine World Cup matches by the source tally: 2026 — Austria (1 goal), Algeria (3 goals). 2022 — France (2 goals, title), Croatia (1 goal, 1 assist), Netherlands (1 goal, 1 assist), Australia (1 goal), Poland (none), Mexico (1 goal, 1 assist), Saudi Arabia (1 goal). That totals 11 goals and 3 assists across the span.
What to watch: Watch whether Messi maintains the scoring pace into the knockout rounds as Argentina pushes its title defense, with his 39th birthday arriving Wednesday.