Messi’s hat-trick rewrites World Cup record books

By Daniel Akinte
It was a night filled with milestones for the Argentine captain.
One of his three goals came from outside the penalty area, making it the fifth long-range strike of his World Cup career.
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At 38 years and 357 days old, Messi surpassed the previous record held by Cameroon’s Roger Milla, who was 38 years and 34 days old when he achieved the feat at the 1990 World Cup.
For a player who has already won the World Cup, lifted countless trophies and broken numerous records, Messi somehow continues to find new ways to make history.
His latest masterpiece not only delivered three points for Argentina but also reinforced his status as one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
As Argentina chase a second consecutive World Cup crown, Messi has already ensured that the 2026 tournament will be remembered as another chapter in his extraordinary legacy.







