KANSAS CITY, United States, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Lionel Messi equaled the record for the most FIFA World Cup goals by scoring his first World Cup finals hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria in Group J on Tuesday.

Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi shoots and scores his team's second goal during the 2026 World Cup Group J football match between Argentina and Algeria at the Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City on June 16, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

Messi put the reigning champion ahead with a long-range strike in the 17th minute and doubled the lead by tapping in on the hour.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner netted his third goal with a low strike into the bottom-left corner 14 minutes from time.

Messi, 38, now has 16 World Cup goals, equaling the record set by Germany's Miroslav Klose at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.