Joint top World Cup goalscorer 

©IMAGO

For those in Europe who stayed up to watch Argentina vs Algeria in the early hours of the morning, it was certainly made worth it. Four years ago, Lionel Messi finally lifted the World Cup with his nation after years of hurt, and suggested it would be his last at 35 years of age. Yet, another four years on, he was persuaded to give one last swan song, and thank goodness he did. Messi began Argentina’s 2026 World Cup campaign by scoring a sensational hat-trick against Algeria aged 38 – he will be 39 this month.

His first goal was trademark Messi, as he picked up between the lines, turned and curled a shot into the net from the edge of the box – admittedly goalkeeper Luca Zidane perhaps could have done better. His second showcased his speed of thought was still the best on the pitch, as he anticipated a rebounded shot before cooly opening up his right foot and sending the keeper the wrong way. And the thrid was again another classic from Messi’s repertoire, as he cleverly found space on the edge of the box, took a couple of sharp touches and wrapped the ball into the bottom corner. Records tumbled after this iconic performance, but at Transfermarkt, we have picked out the five most impressive records Messi has now broken.

Five records Lionel Messi broke after hat-trick

World Cup top goalscorer

The most obvious one, that we’re sure most people have already heard, is the fact that Messi has now equalled Miroslav Klose’s record as the joint-top goalscorer in World Cup history. His hat-trick took him level with the German on 16 goals. Messi will surely now surpass that this tournament, but Frenchman Kylian Mbappé is close behind him after his brace against Senegal took him to 14 World Cup goals.

Oldest World Cup hat-trick scorer

Before this tournament began the record for the oldest ever World Cup hat-trick scorer went to Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a treble in the group stages against Spain in 2018 when he was 33 years old. Messi now smashed that record, having scored a hat-trick aged 38. However, if Ronaldo managed to scored a hat-trick himself at this summer’s World Cup, he would take the record back at 41 years of age.

Most World Cup goals from outside box

It’s not just the goals, it’s how he scores them. Think back to Messi’s superb last minute long-range strike against Iran in the 2014 World Cup. His scorcher against Poland four years ago. Two of his three goals last night. What do they all have in common? They were all from outside the box. Messi now has scored six World Cup goals from outside the box, surpassing the previous record of five which was set by Brazilian Rivelino in 1966.

Most World Cups played in

This one was more of a formality, that didn’t need the superb performance that came with it to stand. But nonetheless, it’s still impressive. Messi became the first ever player to play at as many as six World Cups – he has appeared at 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and now 2026. If Ronaldo plays for Portugal this Wednesday as expected, he will equal that record.

Becomes Argentina’s oldest & youngest World Cup scorer

Back in 2006, Messi broke the record as Argentina’s youngest ever World Cup goalscorer when he notched against Serbia aged 18 years and 357 days. He has now also become the nation’s oldest ever goalscorer at 38. To have broken both those records for a nation as prestigious as Argentina is testament to the legacy of the great man. What more records will he tumble this summer?