In the first round of the FIFA World Cup group stage in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Argentina vs Algeria. In the 76th minute, Messi scored from a long shot, completing a hat-trick. At 38 years and 357 days old, Messi also became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in FIFA World Cup history.
Messi broke the record set by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018 when Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Spain at the age of 33 years and 122 days, becoming the oldest player to score a hat-trick in FIFA World Cup history. Now, Messi has raised this record by five years.
This hat-trick was also Messi's first hat-trick in the FIFA World Cup. With these three goals, Messi also equaled Klose, becoming the joint top scorer in FIFA World Cup history.