Messi Ties Klose’s All-Time World Cup Goal Record Sport By lines June 16, 2026 Lionel Messi rewrote the World Cup goal record on Tuesday. Lionel Messi scored a hat trick against Algeria. The treble tied Miroslav Klose at 16 goals. Messi’s Hat Trick Stakes Argentina A 3-0 Lead Over Algeria Lionel Messi completed the hat trick to stake Argentina to a 3-0 lead. The display marked Messi’s 11th career international hat trick. The treble was Messi’s first hat trick at a World Cup. The hat trick lifted Lionel Messi to 16 World Cup goals total. Miroslav Klose set the previous men’s record at 16 goals. Tuesday also marked Lionel Messi’s 200th appearance for Argentina. Miroslav Klose scored 16 World Cup goals across four tournaments through 2014. Lionel Messi matched the Klose total inside a sixth World Cup. Lionel Messi captained Argentina in the Algeria opener. Tuesday delivered milestones beyond Lionel Messi across the 2026 World Cup. Kylian Mbappe scored twice and set a France scoring mark on debut. Erling Haaland added a brace on Norway’s World Cup debut. Lionel Messi became the first player to feature in six World Cups. Messi also became only the second player to score in five editions. The match fell 20 years after Messi’s 2006 World Cup debut. Lionel Messi debuted at the 2006 World Cup against Serbia and Montenegro. Lionel Messi scored in that 2006 debut off the bench. The Tuesday treble stretched Messi’s scoring across five separate tournaments. Argentina entered the 2026 World Cup as the defending champion. Lionel Messi led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar. The Algeria hat trick opened Messi’s title defense in style. Lionel Messi turns 39 later in June 2026. Lionel Messi scored the hat trick at age 38 against Algeria. No older player had recorded a World Cup hat trick. Lionel Messi now sits level atop the all-time World Cup scoring chart. One more Messi goal would pass Miroslav Klose outright. Messi is the oldest player to score a World Cup hat trick. Lionel Messi needs one goal to break Klose’s record outright. Argentina continues Group play across United States, Canada, and Mexico venues. Lines.com tracks every Messi scoring market through the 2026 World Cup. Related Sports Coverage USMNT Meets Australia With Group D Top Spot at Stake USMNT Routs Paraguay 4-1 in Historic World Cup Opener Cape Verde Stuns Spain in World Cup Opener Sources: ESPN and CBS Sports reported Lionel Messi tied Miroslav Klose at 16 World Cup goals.
