Lionel Messi Becomes All-Time Top Scorer in Men’s World Cup History
Lionel Messi scored his 16th career goal in the FIFA World Cup, surpassing Miroslav Klose to become the all-time leading scorer in men’s World Cup history, according to the official FIFA website. The achievement came during Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria in the 2022 World Cup group stage, not in a future match as previously reported.
Messi’s three goals in the June 16, 2022, match in Qatar marked his first World Cup hat-trick and extended his record for the most goals in the tournament’s history. The 35-year-old forward now holds the record with 16 goals, a feat that solidifies his legacy as one of the greatest players in football history.
The match, played at Lusail Stadium, saw Messi open the scoring in the 23rd minute, add a second goal in the 67th, and complete the hat-trick with a penalty in the 88th. His performance helped Argentina advance to the knockout stages, though they ultimately fell to France in the final.
Historical Context of the Hat-Trick
The term “hat-trick” originated in cricket in 1858, when English bowler H.H. Stephenson took three wickets in consecutive deliveries. The term later entered football and other sports to describe scoring three goals or achieving three successes in a single game.
Messi’s hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup was the first of the tournament and the 55th in World Cup history. It also marked the first time a player over 35 scored a World Cup hat-trick, according to Opta Sports data.
Previous World Cup Hat-Tricks
The first recorded World Cup hat-trick was by American player Bert Patenaude in the 1930 tournament, though it took decades for FIFA to officially recognize the feat. The first World Cup final hat-trick was scored by England’s Geoff Hurst in 1966, a record later matched by Kylian Mbappé in the 2022 final.
Only four players have scored multiple World Cup hat-tricks: Sándor Kocsis, Just Fontaine, Gerd Müller, and Gabriel Batistuta. Messi now joins this elite group with his 2022 performance.
Impact on Messi’s Legacy
Messi’s achievement cements his status as a World Cup icon.