dpatop - 17 June 2026, USA, Kansas City: Soccer, Men, 2026 World Cup, Argentina vs. Algeria, Preliminary Round, Group J, Matchday 1, Kansas City Stadium, Lionel Messi (Argentina) celebrates his second goal, making the score 2-0. PLEASE NOTE: In accordance with FIFA regulations, these images may be used exclusively for editorial purposes. Commercial use is prohibited. Furthermore, no video-like sequences may be created, and no alterations may be made to the image, either in the foreground or the background. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa (Photo by Tom Weller/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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Any suggestions that Lionel Messi’s presence at the 2026 World Cup might be diminished crumbled on Tuesday night with Algeria’s rear guard.
On a day bursting with star performances, the soon-to-be-39-year-old gave the best of them all with a sensational and historic hat trick that pulled the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner into position as the joint top scorer in World Cup history alongside Germany’s Miroslav Klose.
He became the oldest ever to score a World Cup hat trick, let alone the first of his career. And in the aftermath, there was suddenly no choice but to consider the idea that his legacy for his national team could still have another significant chapter.
There is a long way to go. But here are three ways Messi could yet write himself into more World Cup history over the next month.
In 2022, Messi slung the proverbial monkey off his back to add the lone piece of silverware that eluded him during in his exemplary career.
In 2026, winning a second consecutive world championship could secure his place even above Pelé and Maradonna as the best who has ever walked the earth.
Only two teams have previously won consecutive World Cups, Italy in 1934 and 1938, and Brazil in 1958 and 62. Of the all-time greats in the international game, only Pelé has achieved the feat.
Italy: 1934, 1938
Brazil: 1958, 1962
And Messi’s club success has already succeeded Pelé. He has five UEFA Champions League crowns with FC Barcelona against two Copa Libertadores titles for Pelé’s storied Santos sides, and 13 domestic league titles across all of his clubs against Pelé’s seven.
This is no knock to Pelé, who clearly played in a different era before power was as concentrated among elite clubs in a few countries. At the time, Brazil’s government even prevented him from making a European move in the prime of his career.
Despite a tournament field that includes Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane, it’s both astonishing and entirely sensible that Messi emerged from his first-ever World Cup hat trick as oddsmakers’ frontrunner to win the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot.
1. Diego Forlán* (URU, 2010): 31 years, 53 days
2. Davor Šuker (HRV, 1998): 30, 192 days
3. Garrincha (BRA, 1962): 28 years, 232 days
4. David Villa* (ESP, 2010): 28 years, 220 days
5. Hristo Stoichkov* (BUL, 1994): 28 years, 159 days
*Joint tournament leading scorer
The World Cup scoring title has never been considered a necessity for a career legacy. Pelé and Maradonna have never captured the honor either, nor has Cristiano Ronaldo, . And should Messi capture it, it probably wouldn’t rank among the first five or six most-impressive feats of his incredible career.
What it would represent is an incredible tribute to his career longevity. By the time this World Cup ends, Messi will be a full nine years older than the previous oldest winner, Uruguay’s Diego Forlan in 2010.
Given that France’s Kylian Mbappe won the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot after scoring eight times and in 2026 is still well in his prime at 27 years old, the conventional wisdom suggested he was the most likely player to challenge Klose’s all-time record this summer.
T1. Lionel Messi (ARG) - 16
T1. Mirslav Klose (GER) - 16
3. Ronaldo (BRA) - 15
T4. Kylian Mbappé (FRA) -14
T4. Gerd Müller (GER) - 14
Bold: Currently active
And while the incredibly consistent scorer – who plays with arguably the most-talented national side in the world from roster spots No. 1-26 – looks almost certain to eventually hold the honor, it would be pretty remarkable if Messi makes a surge to prolong his wait.
His seven goals in 2022 pulled him past Pelé and Maradona on the all-time World Cup list. Even if he only temporarily stands alone as the tournament’s all-time leader, it would be another point of evidence in the argument that his career is becoming singularly great in the all-time history of the game.
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