GOAT things only: Messi fires first World Cup hat-trick at 38 - here are 7 football legends who did it before him

FIFA fans, the wait is over! Yes, after days of injury concerns and endless speculations, Lionel Messi has returned to the World Cup stage, and that too in a spectacular fashion. It was just the first match for Argentina, and he already scored his first hat-trick of his World Cup career during the clash against Algeria.


Messi has again proved it, as for a moment, football fans feared that they might not see Lionel Messi on the pitch for one last dance, but the 38-year-old turned the doubt into a highlight reel.

The Kansas City Stadium was barely settling into the game when Argentina's captain reminded everyone why football's biggest stage still belongs to him. An early goal was ruled offside, but that delayed the inevitable.

Minutes later, Messi received the ball near the edge of the box and unleashed a thunderous strike that left goalkeeper Luca Zidane with no chance.

The hat-trick wasn't just about the goals. It was about creating history, and Messi's remarkable night saw him reach another iconic milestone on football's biggest stage.

The Argentina captain joined an exclusive club of players who have scored in five different World Cups, proving that greatness isn't measured by age but by consistency. The appearance itself is too historic. By stepping onto the field, Messi became the first men's player ever to feature in six FIFA World Cups.


Additionally, Messi has spent nearly two decades turning World Cups into his personal scrapbook of memories. And as if that wasn't enough, the Argentinian legend also reached 200 international appearances for his country, another reminder that fans are witnessing one of the longest and most extraordinary careers in sporting history.

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Lionel Messi added another unforgettable chapter to his legendary career by scoring his first World Cup hat-trick of his life against Algeria. But here are 7 legendary names who achieved the beat before him.

Few World Cup hat-tricks have been as dramatic as Mbappe's treble in the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina. Despite his heroics, France ultimately fell short, but the performance cemented his reputation as one of football's biggest stars.

Back in 2018, Ronaldo produced one of the tournament's most memorable displays against Spain. The Portuguese superstar scored all three goals in a thrilling draw, including a striking late free-kick that instantly became a World Cup classic.

Before Messi, Gabriel Batistuta was Argentina's undisputed World Cup goal machine. He remains the only player to score hat-tricks in two different World Cups, achieving the feat against Greece in 1994 and Jamaica in 1998.


Germany's all-time World Cup scoring king announced himself on the biggest stage with a hat-trick against Saudi Arabia in 2002. Klose would go on to become one of the most prolific World Cup goal scorers in history.

At just 17 years old, Pele stunned the football world by scoring a hat-trick against France in the 1958 World Cup semi-final. The performance helped him launch a career that would change football forever.





Next is Geoff Hurst, who holds a unique place in the history of football as the only player to score a hat-trick in a men's World Cup final. His three goals inspired England to victory over West Germany in 1966.

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Well, long before the modern football icons arrived, Patenaude etched his name into the record books by scoring the first-ever World Cup hat-trick against Paraguay in 1930. Nearly a century later, his achievement remains a historic milestone.

Messi's first World Cup treble against Alergia has now added his name to a list that includes some of the greatest players the game has ever seen, a fitting place for a football legend whose story continues to grow.

Miroslav Klose (Germany) and Lionel Messi (Argentina) holds the record with 16 goals in FIFA World Cup history.

Before Messi (who scored at 38), the oldest known World Cup hat-trick scorer was Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018 (33 years old vs Spain).


Yes. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Spain in the 2018 World Cup group stage.

Yes. Lionel Messi has more World Cup goals than Pelé.