Messi hat-trick gives Argentina 3-0 win over Algeria, ties all-time World Cup goals record

Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 at the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday morning, with captain Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick to tie the all-time tournament scoring record, Israeli media report. Messi's milestone follows his record-tying performance reported minutes earlier, as Argentina opens its title defense with a clean-sheet victory.

Argentina's 3-0 World Cup win over Algeria early this morning was punctuated by Lionel Messi's hat-trick, which tied the all-time tournament scoring record. The Zioneer's thread tracked the match in close to real time: at 04:20 Jerusalem, Ben Goldfriend reported Messi's first goal (his 14th career World Cup goal) in the 16th minute; minutes later the same source's live match broadcast noted Messi had added a second to make it 2-0; by 04:20 it was confirmed that Messi had completed his hat-trick, tying the all-time record. Official match result at the same mark locked in the clean-sheet victory.

The new detail in this update, also at 04:20 Jerusalem — Messi's 200th appearance for Argentina — was folded into the match report by Israeli media outlets. The Zioneer earlier this month reported Messi's pre-tournament form, including a goal two minutes after coming off the bench in a 3-0 friendly win over Iceland on June 10.

As The Zioneer noted earlier, Argentina opened its title defense in Group play. The U.S. beat Paraguay 4-1 in Saturday's tournament opener, setting a record 12-goal month. Messi's milestone places him alongside the all-time World Cup scoring leaders, a reference point The Zioneer's topic page maintained throughout.

No further details on other scorers, Algerian chances, or substitutions were reported.

5 developments

1. 57 minutes ago · 07:42 · 17 JunLatest

   Messi expressed emotional distress following his record-tying hat-trick performance.

2. 07:06 · 17 Jun

   Messi records his 200th appearance for the Argentina national team

3. 06:14 · 17 Jun

   Argentina secures 3-0 victory over Algeria as match concludes

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