Lionel Messi reopened the race to 1,000 senior career goals with a hat-trick in Argentina's 2026 Men's World Cup opener against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, moving to 915 total goals for club and country.
Cristiano Ronaldo still leads the count at 973 goals, putting him 27 away from the milestone while Messi needs 85. The margin remains wide, but Messi's perfect start came after Ronaldo failed to score in Portugal's own World Cup debut.
Messi's first goal followed a Rodrigo De Paul pass through the middle, with the Argentina captain driving forward and finishing with his left foot. The second came after Alexis Mac Allister's shot was spilled by goalkeeper Luca Zidane, and Messi reacted quickest from close range. The third saw him collect the ball near the edge of the area, shift inside, and place a measured finish into the corner.
The hat-trick marked Messi's 200th appearance for Argentina and took him to 120 international goals, giving Argentina the statement start they wanted in Group J.
Despite the blank against Portugal's opening opponent, Cristiano remains the closest player in football history to 1,000 goals. He has built his tally across Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al-Nassr, and Portugal. Messi has reached his total through Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami, and Argentina, often from deeper positions rather than as a pure penalty box forward.
With the 2026 World Cup potentially the final World Cup for both, Cristiano keeps the lead while Messi carries momentum into the rest of the tournament. Ronaldo is set to play only in Portugal's first two group games after FIFA overturned a suspension he picked up following a red card for violent conduct in a qualifying loss away to Ireland.
