Lionel Messi delivered the headline moment on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, as Argentina beat Algeria 1-0 at the 2026 World Cup in Kansas City. On a day when Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland starred for France and Norway, Messi made sure the tournament still had its signature moment from the Argentine legend.
The match came on a landmark night for La Albiceleste. Messi officially made his 200th appearance for Argentina in what is the sixth World Cup of his career, and the strike put him on the scoresheet in what is likely to be his final tournament appearance.
How the Goal Happened
Messi was denied an early breakthrough when a fifth-minute opener was ruled out for offside. Algeria suffered the same fate just minutes later with a disallowed effort of their own.
Messi was not to be denied for long. He picked up the ball in space and fired home a trademark long-range hit to beat Luca Zidane and make it 1-0 before the first hydration break.
World Cup Records
With that goal, Messi became the third-oldest goalscorer in World Cup history, behind Cameroon legend Roger Milla and Portuguese great Pepe.
Messi has now scored at five World Cups: 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026. That puts him alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored at the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 editions, as the only two players to score in five different World Cups.
Lionel Messi's goal sees him become the second man to score at five World Cups, after Cristiano Ronaldo, and also makes him the third-oldest scorer in the tournament's history after Cameroon's Roger Milla in 1994 and Portugal's Pepe in 2022. Messi is 38 (39 on June 24).
Ronaldo's Turn Next
Ronaldo is set for his first tournament appearance on Thursday against DR Congo. That schedule leaves open the possibility of one final goalscoring showdown before the iconic pair call time on their international careers.
