Lionel Messi defies age, proves he's still the GOAT in record-setting night vs. Algeria

Lionel Messi defies age, proves he’s still the GOAT in record-setting night vs. Algeria originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As Argentina and Lionel Messi entered the 2026 World Cup, there was one question the world wanted to know.

Does the GOAT still have it?

No need to bury the lede. The answer is an emphatic yes.

On a night when Argentina fans turned the normally all-red Arrowhead Stadium into a boisterous blue-and-white party, Messi scored three goals, leading Argentina to a 3-0 win over Algeria on Tuesday night.

When we last saw Messi on the World Cup stage, many soccer fans assumed it was his triumphant ride into the sunset. Then, at 35, he finally had the one trophy that had eluded him. Surely, that was the final major chapter in a legendary career.

So when he decided to play in this year’s event, naturally there were those questions.

Questions about his health, and how his left hamstring would hold up. In his last match with Inter Miami, he had left the field gingerly, and “muscle fatigue” was seemingly in every headline about his World Cup status.

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And of course, the questions about his age. At 38 years old — he turns 39 on June 24 — does he still have what it takes to carry his country on his back? He still has the elite skill, but holding up over the course of the World Cup against much younger legs would naturally present plenty of challenges.

For one night, he showed the world there’s plenty left in the tank.

Against Algeria in the 17th minute, he took a slick pass from Rodrigo De Paul, and Messi cut through the middle of the defense before unleashing his left foot for a strike at the edge of the 18-yard box. Goal No. 1.

In the 60th minute, he was in the right place at the right time, taking a rebound off goalkeeper Luca Zidane to smoothly slip a shot with his right foot into the back of the net. Goal No. 2.

And in the 76th minute, Messi dribbled through the defense before passing to Nico Gonzalez, who returned to Messi, who launched another curling shot into the net.

Three goals. Three reminders Messi has no plans of giving up his GOAT status or Argentina’s title easily.

MORE: Messi’s complete stats, goals, and highlights against Algeria

With the three goals, Messi tied Miroslav Klose for the most World Cup goals of all time, with 16. He became the oldest player in World Cup history to score a hat trick. It was his 200th match with the national team. And the goals came 20 years to the day of his World Cup debut, when he also scored a goal.

There are other questions about Argentina’s roster, and whether this team, which is mostly intact from four years ago, has enough to win another World Cup, or if the band was kept together just a little too long.

On this night, though, only one thing mattered to the packed stadium that was in song for most of the night.

There’s still plenty of magic left in that left foot.

MORE: Where does Messi rank among World Cup goal scorers?