The race for the most goals in FIFA World Cup history has taken another dramatic turn after Lionel Messi produced a stunning performance against Algeria in the 2026 tournament. The Argentina captain scored a hat-trick in his opening match, taking his World Cup goal tally to 16 and drawing level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose as the highest goal scorer in World Cup history.
Messi’s latest achievement adds another record to his remarkable career. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already become historic for the Argentine forward, as he became the first footballer to feature in six editions of the men’s FIFA World Cup.