Racing Messi could be described as the third day of the World Cup 2026 as the miraculous Argentine broke with the "good morning" not one, not two, not three but a total of seven records in 3-0 against Algeria sending the message that his team is on the North American courts to maintain the world champion title.
Initially, Messi became the first footballer in World Cup history to play in six different events (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026).
Along with the three goals he scored, Messi caught at the top of the first scorer list Miroslav Klose with 16 goals.
Entering the field at the age of 38 and 357 days, Pulga became the oldest player to score at least two goals in a Mundial match, the oldest with a hat-trick, but also Argentina's oldest ever scorer in the institution.
Algeria also became the 11th team against which Messi scores, which no one else has managed against so many countries. The remaining 10 who have been "harmed" by Argentina's number 10 are: Serbia, Mexico, Nigeria, Bosnia, Iran, Croatia, Australia, the Netherlands, France and Saudi Arabia.
Messi's first and third goals occurred outside the area and thus Argentinus reached 6 in this way (ss out of area) in World Cup history, surpassing the great Brazilian, Roberto Rivelino.
🚨🇦🇷 Lionel Messi (38) has had a true HISTORIC performance. .. 🐐
🥇 Messi is now Argentina's OLDEST ever World Cup goalscorer
🥇 Messi is now the OLDEST ever player to score a World Cup brace
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🥇 Messi is now the joint highest... pic.twitter. com/rJ7rMHNdt0— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) June 17, 2026
The coincidence with goals
What happened at the dawn of Wednesday (Greece time) also conceals another coincidence for Pulga.
As FIFA recorded, Messi scored his first goal in a World Cup on June 16, 2006 and the historic hat trick against Algeria just 20 years later, June 2026
🤯 Exactly 20 years apart, but the same Lionel Messi.
16 June 2026: Lionel Messi scores a hat-trick at the FIFA World Cup.#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter. Com/3byvbGL2DY— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 17, 2026
Apotheosis and moaning from Algeria
In statements after the showdown was completed, the leader of Algeria, Issa Madi, commented on the defeat of his team, stressing that it came mainly from the excellent appearance of the Argentine superstar.
"The difference between them and us was that they have a player who is "unstable" in front of the dorm. Almost every chance for goals that has ended up in the nets. He's probably the best player of all time. His effectiveness is incredible and we knew that. We tried to neutralize him, but we did not succeed, he was just very good for us," noted the central defender of the "Phoenics".
🏆 #FIFAWorldCup#beINFWC2026 pic.twitter. com/VeMtaXky Y6— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports FR) June 17, 2026
However the whole story could have been written differently if a mark on Messi against Mandi had been judged differently by the referee of the contest. The phase took place in the 31st minute of the match and with the score at 1–0, when the Argentine superstar went very sloppyly upon his opponent, resulting in him stepping on the calf with the caps. For many this was a mark that could have been punished even with a red card, with the African team strongly protesting and the referee not showing a yellow card either.
The first post with triumph
In his first post after his premiere at the 6th World Cup of his career, Messi states "happy" for the result and "thankful for love" stressing that "I am proud to see this team struggle again, as he has done over the years.