Lionel Messi is 38 years old, and he just made a World Cup field full of 20-somethings look like they’re playing a different sport. On Wednesday, Argentina’s captain scored a hat trick against Algeria in the tournament’s opening round — and in doing so, he casually rewrote multiple all-time records that most fans assumed would outlast his career.
The performance wasn’t just vintage Messi; it was historically absurd. With his three goals, Messi tied German legend Miroslav Klose for the most World Cup goals ever (16), though Klose needed 24 matches to get there. Messi hit the mark in 27 appearances. More importantly, Messi now owns the record for most goal contributions in World Cup history — 24 combined goals and assists — surpassing Pelé’s long-standing total of 21.
The Furious Flurries Pattern
What makes Messi’s World Cup resume so strange is how it’s built. In three of his six tournaments, he scored one goal or fewer — including a goose egg in 2010. Then, without warning, he erupts. In 2014, he finished third in the Golden Boot race with four goals. In 2022, he scored seven, one behind Kylian Mbappé. Now, after just one match in 2026, he already leads the tournament scoring charts. History suggests there’s more coming.
According to match data, Messi’s hat trick also made him the oldest player ever to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match. The previous record holder? A 33-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a hat trick against Spain in 2018. Messi, at 38 years and 357 days, now owns that milestone too.
Ronaldo’s Record Book Takes Another Hit
This isn’t the first time Messi has erased a Ronaldo mark, and it won’t be the last. By scoring in his fifth different World Cup, Messi tied Ronaldo for appearances with goals in five separate tournaments. Ronaldo will have a chance to reclaim that record when Portugal faces DR Congo on Wednesday, but the hat trick record is now Messi’s alone.
Beyond the individual stats, the performance carried deeper weight. The match marked Messi’s 200th appearance for Argentina, making him the first South American male player to reach that milestone. Since turning 35, Messi has scored more World Cup goals than icons like Thierry Henry, Rivaldo, and Diego Maradona managed in their entire careers combined.
Fans online noted the irony: at an age when most players are retired or managing late-career cameos, Messi is setting a pace that would win the Golden Boot outright. The team has not confirmed any specific preparation changes for Messi, but his early form suggests he’s pacing himself for another deep run. Argentina looked sharp against a disciplined Algerian side, and the defending champions now sit atop Group C with three points and a massive goal differential.
The question isn’t whether Messi can still play at this level. It’s whether anyone can stop him before he turns 39 in five months.
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