Football superstar Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win against Algeria to equal the all-time record for most World Cup goals.
Messi has now scored 16 goals at the tournament and is tied with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose.
He also became the first player to make six World Cup appearances as he started the title holders’ tournament opener.
Here’s how the international press reacted to Messi’s historical day.
Argentina
Clarín: “With a sensational Lionel Messi, Argentina got off to a flying start in their bid to defend their title at the 2026 World Cup.”
La Nación: “Messi is the World Cup. The eternal captain. Three goals – one record. As always, Lionel Messi.”
Olé: “Lionel Messi’s World Cup show, with three goals and a record. He’s old, he plays in a lower-tier league, he doesn’t run like he used to. He no longer wins one-on-one situations, he’s just coasting on his name, he leaves no room for new talent. Welcome back, experts in pessimism. Get ready: the number 10 is here.”
Italy
Gazzetta dello Sport: Messi makes history! There are no words, only feelings. Messi takes the reins and wields them powerfully before his subjects. So much for stepping down.”
Corriere dello Sport: Leo Messi, you’re spetacular: a hat-trick, and Argentina beat Algeria. The champion sends the United States into ecstasy with two goals with his left foot and one with his right: the world lies at his feet.”
United States
Washington Post: “Messi, who turns 39 next week, nearly scored two more goals against Algeria, and at no point did it seem as though the minor thigh injury that had worried fans in the run-up to the tournament was a problem.”
USA Today: “The World Cup contenders and rivals in Group J, who had hoped that the previously injured Lionel Messi would struggle to carry Argentina through their World Cup campaign, received terrible news on Tuesday evening: Messi is as good as ever.”
Mexico
Mediotiempo: “The history of the World Cup is written by its great stars. Lionel Messi is one of them – a living legend who wants to continue writing pages in golden letters, just as he did with his hat-trick, which gave Argentina a 3-0 victory over Algeria in their debut at the 2026 World Cup.”
Spain
Marca: “Messi is football history.”
Mundo Deportivo: “Lionel Messi defies all logic. He’s storming into the World Cup with brutal force, leading the Argentina national team with his usual class, and triggering a tidal wave of amazement. This can’t be true. This phenomenon, who will soon turn 39, manages to score a hat-trick at a World Cup – and does so with absolute ease, even though he had only just recovered from a muscle injury a few days ago. A timeless genius!”
AS: “A historic Messi. It happened in Kansas City. In the heart of Missouri. In the land of the great American dream. Messi played in his sixth World Cup as if time had stood still for him: He scored a hat-trick, tied Klose as the all-time leading World Cup scorer, and enjoyed every moment of it. A child. That’s what he is. A happy child.”
England
Daily Mail: “The million-dollar question heading into this World Cup was simple: How much does Messi have left in that glorious tank of his? We needed just one game to find out. In fact, we needed just 17 minutes here in Kansas City.”
The Sun: “Whoever writes Lionel Messi’s scripts is at it again. On the occasion of his 200th Argentina cap, of course Messi scored his first World Cup hat-trick – 20 years to the day since his first tournament goal.”
France
L’Équipe: “One, two, three – long live Lionel Messi. And with the ball, Messi is still Messi.”
Le Parisien: “Who else but Lionel Messi could get Argentina back on track? The leader, the football genius – that’s still him.”
