Lionel Messi hat-trick stuns World Cup as Erling Haaland posts 'Messi is a madman'

Who: Lionel Messi and Argentina. What: Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina's opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City. When: 17 June 2026 (Argentina's opening-day match). Why it matters: Messi's performance not only powered Argentina to a decisive victory but also produced multiple historic milestones and provoked an immediate, high-profile reaction from Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.

Messi's masterclass and the milestones it created

Lionel Messi dominated Argentina's World Cup debut with a three-goal display that finished 3-0 against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium. The hat-trick came at age 38, making him the oldest player in World Cup history to score a hat-trick, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo's previous mark set at 33 during Russia 2018. The performance also took Messi level with Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, on 16 goals, according to the supplied report.

High-profile praise: Haaland and Scaloni react

Erling Haaland — described in the source as a Norway superstar and a Manchester City forward — responded instantly on social media, posting on Snapchat 'Messi is a madman' accompanied by a crown emoji. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was also quoted as being awestruck, saying Messi displayed the same level of magic he has shown for the past 20 years.

Why it matters

This result carried extra significance for Argentina beyond the match scoreline. The victory ended a long-standing pattern for Argentina's post-World Cup-openers: after their 1978 and 1986 titles, Argentina began the following tournaments with defeats (to Belgium in 1982 and Cameroon in 1990). By winning in Kansas City, Argentina avoided repeating those historical slip-ups and started their 2026 campaign strongly.

• Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 in their 2026 World Cup opener at Kansas City Stadium.
• Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick at age 38 — the oldest player to do so at a World Cup.
• Messi's treble took him level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals.
• Erling Haaland reacted on Snapchat, posting 'Messi is a madman' with a crown emoji.
• Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni praised Messi's performance, noting its consistency with two decades of quality.

Tactical and squad implications

While the supplied material focuses on Messi's individual excellence and the immediate reactions, the hat-trick provides Argentina with both a goal difference boost and momentum as they progress through the group phase. The report does not provide further verified details on changes to Argentina's tactical setup, selection options, or injury updates, so those topics require follow-up reporting for confirmation.

What it means and what happens next

Messi's hat-trick gives Argentina an emphatic start to their World Cup campaign and removes a historical opening-game concern for the nation. It also elevated public and peer perception of Messi's enduring quality — exemplified by Haaland's viral reaction. The immediate next step for Argentina is to build on this opening win as the tournament continues; specific fixtures and schedule details were not provided in the supplied sources and should be confirmed from the official World Cup schedule.