The 2026 World Cup continues to deliver non-stop entertainment for football fans and the casual viewers, and they were treated to the spectacle of Lionel Messi’s first ever World Cup hat-trick. The 39-year-old Argentine played in his record sixth World Cup when he suited up against Algeria, with his hat-trick putting him level with Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals in all editions. The former Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen striker knew that his record was likely to be broken and that he would
welcome Messi being the one to do it.
“I expect my record to be broken in this tournament,” Klose admitted (as captured by X account @iMiaSanMia). “That’s perfectly fine, the record will be broken eventually anyway, Messi is welcome to do it. I’m a huge Messi fan, always have been. Messi is a genius.”
After Klose and Germany denied Messi his World Cup in 2014, the former FC Barcelona man managed to clinch his much-awaited World Cup win in 2022. In this tournament, La Albiceleste will be defending their crown.
