World Cup 2026

Messi Gets First World Cup Hat Trick Victory Over Algeria

His three-goal game follows Kylian Mbappé’s two goals for France against Senegal, and Erling Haaland’s two goals for Norway against Iraq.
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Messi Gets First World Cup Hat Trick Victory Over Algeria
Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Algeria at Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on June 16, 2026. Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images
T.J. Muscaro
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Global soccer icon Lionel Messi secured his first-ever World Cup hat-trick when he returned to the global stage to lead Argentina to a 3–0 victory over Algeria on June 16.

Starting off by launching the ball to the back of the net from the top of the penalty box 17 minutes into the game, thanks to a pass from his Inter-Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, Messi found the net twice again in the second half, continuing to best Algerian goalkeeper Lucas Zidane, son of France’s star player from its 1998 World Cup championship Zinedine Zidane. 

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T.J. Muscaro
T.J. Muscaro
Author
T.J. Muscaro is an award-winning reporter and NASA Correspondent for The Epoch Times, covering the Artemis program, Space Force, and other public and private ambitions within the growing space industry. Based in Tampa, Florida, he also covers stories of extreme weather and disaster relief, as well as various matters of national and international politics.