Messi’s three – Lionel Messi scored three goals for Argentina against Algeria on Tuesday, June 16, tying a men’s World Cup scoring record and moving to 16 career World Cup goals. The next chance to become the all-time men’s leader comes when Argentina plays Austria on Monday,
Argentina fans in Kansas City were still shaking off the anticipation of their team’s next step when the match clock finally turned—Tuesday, June 16—into one of those moments that feels bigger than the sport itself.
Lionel Messi didn’t just start Argentina’s 2026 World Cup match against Algeria. He made history immediately. He became the first player ever to appear in six World Cup tournaments. and it took him only 17 minutes to score in his sixth edition. The night kept accelerating: he added a second goal in the 60th minute and completed his first World Cup hat trick in the 76th minute. a performance that tied the men’s World Cup scoring record.
Those goals also shifted the math on the all-time leaderboard. Messi’s total rose to 16 World Cup goals, tying him for the most in men’s World Cup history and placing him second in World Cup history across both men and women.
The standings as of Tuesday, June 16 show how close the next milestone is:
Marta (Brazil) — 17 goals
T-2: Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 16 goals
T-2: Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 16 goals (active)
4. Ronaldo (Brazil) – 15 goals
T-5: Birgit Prinz (Germany) — 14 goals
T-5: Gerd Müller (Germany) — 14 goals
T-5: Abby Wambach (USA) — 14 goals
T-5: Kylian Mbappé (France) – 14 goals (active)
9. Just Fontaine (France) — 13 goals
T-10: Pelé (Brazil) – 12 goals
T-10: Michelle Akers (USA) — 12 goals.
The record Messi is chasing is held by Brazil’s Marta, who scored 17 goals in the World Cup. Because he reached 16, his next game isn’t just another match on the schedule—it’s the next doorway to the top.
Argentina’s next opportunity to pass the mark comes when the team plays Austria on Monday. June 22 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Texas. That’s where Messi can become the all-time men’s World Cup scoring leader. with the possibility—across his next match and the tournament—to either tie or break Marta’s overall World Cup record.
Lionel Messi Argentina Algeria 2026 World Cup FIFA World Cup goals record Marta 17 goals Miroslav Klose Ronaldo AT&T Stadium Arlington World Cup hat trick
Messi is basically unstoppable again. 17 minutes??
So he scored three vs Algeria and now he might pass some record with Austria? Kinda wild that Kansas City fans are waiting around like it’s gonna change their whole week lol. Also Marta having 17 goals… I thought it was women and men mixed? Confusing.
I don’t get how he’s only at 16 career World Cup goals if he’s been in like 6 tournaments forever. Like shouldn’t it be way more? Maybe they’re counting only recent ones or something. Either way I hope Austria doesn’t get embarrassed Monday.
This is insane… first guy to be in SIX World Cups and he ties the record in one game basically. But wait, they said he’s tied with Klose and Marta is 17, so does that mean next match he becomes #1 no matter what? I swear I read somewhere Ronaldo already had the top spot? I might be mixing articles but still, that Algeria hat trick timing is crazy.