The 38-year-old’s hat-trick in a 3-0 win in Kansas City did more than secure Argentina a comfortable victory. It rewrote the World Cup history books in a single evening.
Messi now sits level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals, the all-time scoring record across the men’s tournament since its inception in 1930. Klose set the mark across four World Cups between 2002 and 2014. Messi has needed six to match it, but at 38 he remains active in the race to stand alone at the top.
Just as significant is what happened to Pele’s name in the record books. Messi’s hat-trick took his combined World Cup goals and assists to 24, eclipsing the Brazilian legend’s long-standing mark of 21 goal contributions. Pele’s record had stood since his final World Cup appearance in 1970.
20 years of Messi ✨#FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 17, 2026
The manner of the goals only added to the occasion. A long-range strike in the 17th minute set the tone, followed by a close-range finish after a rebound and a curled effort to complete his first-ever World Cup hat-trick in the 76th minute.
Messi was typically measured afterwards. “To enjoy this with my family, with my teammates, the ones who are always there, is a really beautiful moment,” he said. “I’m happy.”
Coach Lionel Scaloni struggled to find new words for a player he has coached for years. “I don’t have the words to describe Messi. For 20 years, he’s had us used to seeing things like this, and he inspires everyone who watches him play.”
With Klose’s record now shared and Pele’s surpassed, the only question left is whether Messi can stand alone at the summit before his sixth World Cup ends.
– AFP
Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
