Messi Ties World Cup Goal Record with Hat Trick Against Algeria

Inter Miami star equals Miroslav Klose's 16 goals.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jun 171 min read

With a hat trick against Algeria tonight, @InterMiamiCF's Lionel Messi tied the all-time @FIFAWorldCup scoring record an Via @MLS_PR on X

What happened: Lionel Messi scored a hat trick on Wednesday night to lead Argentina to a victory over Algeria in their World Cup opener. The performance makes him the first active MLS player to score three goals in a single World Cup match.

Why it matters: With these three goals, Messi has tied Miroslav Klose for the most goals in World Cup history at 16. The Inter Miami forward is competing in his historic sixth World Cup appearance, further cementing his legacy as the tournament's most prolific scorer.

By the numbers: World Cup Goals: 16 (Tied all-time record); World Cup Appearances: 6; Active MLS World Cup Hat Tricks: 1.

What to watch: Argentina looks to secure their spot in the knockout stage in their next Group J fixture. Messi remains one goal away from taking sole possession of the all-time scoring record.

Sources

@MLS_PR 2026-06-17T03:27:39.087710+00:00

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