Lionel Messi equals all-time goalscoring record at World Cups

Lionel Messi equalled Miroslav Klose’s all-time grounds for goals astatine World Cup tournaments erstwhile helium netted for the 16th clip successful Argentina’s opening lucifer against Algeria connected Tuesday (June 16, 2026).

The Argentine veteran, playing astatine a grounds sixth World Cup, scored from region successful the archetypal fractional and poked location from adjacent scope successful the 2nd period.

Lionel Messi scored his 16th extremity successful the World Cup.

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He completed his hat-trick successful the 76th minute, sending the massed ranks of Argentine fans successful Kansas City wild.

Messi, who turns 39 adjacent week, had been dealing with a insignificant hamstring wounded with Inter Miami had slowed him successful the lead-up to the World Cup. But helium had nary problems successful a tuneup past week with Iceland, scoring connected a punishment footwear portion playing 20 minutes.

Messi’s quality against Algeria was the 200th of his planetary career, which began successful 2005 astatine the property of 18. The lone players with much are Portugal’s Ronaldo, who volition play successful his 229th connected Wednesday against Congo, and Bader al-Mutawa, who played successful his 202nd lucifer for Kuwait successful 2002.

Messi-mania has swept done Kansas City ever since Argentina’s arrival.

On lucifer day, thousands of fans wearing his No. 10 jersey trekked into the location of the NFL’s Chiefs connected the outskirts of Kansas City. Meanwhile, astatine a ticker enactment astatine the downtown Power and Light District, a real-life goat accompanied by erstwhile NFL quarterback-turned Fox broadcaster Jameis Winston came connected signifier wearing the aforesaid blue-and-white Argentina jersey.

The statement that Messi is soccer’s GOAT — top of each clip — is becoming nary statement astatine each with each World Cup goal.