At 38, Lionel Messi breaks Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup hat-trick age record
Lionel Messi scored a historic hat-trick on Wednesday morning in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria at the 2026 World Cup, reaching 16 World Cup goals and tying Miroslav Klose as the tournament's all-time top scorer. The performance also added another milestone to a rivalry that has defined an era in football.
Messi, who is 38 and will turn 39 in a week, became the oldest player ever to score a World Cup hat-trick. He broke the previous record set by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018, when Ronaldo was 33 and scored three goals in Portugal's 3-3 draw with Spain, including a memorable late free kick.
The Israeli sports outlet Sport 5 described Messi's display as an unforgettable masterclass from the world champion, who is trying to defend the title. The article notes that both stars continue to set records even in the World Cup. It was published on June 17, 2026, at 10:29.
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