Messi Matches World Cup Scoring Mark, Claims Record 11th Player of the Match Award

Fifa World Cup 2026 : For much of the build-up to the World Cup, the questions had been familiar. Was Lionel Messi fit? Was this one World Cup too far? At 38, carrying the load of two decades at the summit of football, could he still bend the sport to his will when it mattered most?

After Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria in Kansas City, the answer had arrived in the form of three goals, a standing ovation and a reminder that football’s greatest stage still seems to belong to him.

Messi silences doubt

Argentina began their title defence with a 3-0 win and Messi, playing in a record sixth World Cup, played the central role once again with a hat-trick that cleared the air around his fitness, and gave Argentina’s title defence wings.

Messi also made history by being the player with the most man of match awards in FIFA World Cup tournament history with eleven. He has played for Argentina in six world cups right from 2006 up to this year in 2026 and has been the driving force behind Argentina’s success for 20 years and even led them to the ultimate gold in 2022.

It was also a night when the World Cup’s biggest stars collectively announced their presence. Kylian Mbappe scored a brace as France opened with a 3-1 win over Senegal, while Erling Haaland, too, found the net twice in Norway’s 4-1 victory over Iraq.