Lionel Messi Scored in the 17th, 60th, and 76th Minutes, and the World Cup Is Officially on Notice

Holy smokes, you guys! Just when you thought Lionel Messi had done *everything* in a World Cup, he goes and pulls this off! The man just dropped a hat trick in Argentina's 3-0 absolute thrashing of Algeria in 2026. We're talking goals in the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes, cementing his place on an incredibly short, elite list of players to score three times in a World Cup match this century. Messi has officially added one more impossible line to the record book. You really love to see it!

The Early Century Hat Trick Heroes Set the Tone

Okay, so Messi isn't totally alone on this exclusive 21st-century list. We gotta rewind the clock to 2002 to find the first names etched into history. Miroslav Klose absolutely went off, starting this whole thing with a ruthless hat trick as Germany demolished Saudi Arabia 8-0 in the group stage. That was the start of his rise, leading him to become the tournament's all-time leading scorer across his career. What a legend! Then, just nine days later, Pauleta joined him, bagging three goals as Portugal beat Poland 4-0. His goals gave Portugal a desperately-needed group-stage win and it remains one of the best individual World Cup performances by a Portuguese forward this century.

Argentina's Danger, Germany's Dominance, and a Swiss Surprise

Fast forward to 2010, and it was Gonzalo Higuain's turn, snagging the only World Cup hat trick of that year. He helped Argentina beat South Korea 4-1 in the group stage, truly exemplifying how dangerous Argentina felt under Diego Maradona's guidance. Talk about feeling the pressure! Then came 2014, and Thomas Muller just opened Germany’s campaign with a brilliant hat trick against Portugal in a 4-0 win. That was a serious sta

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tement performance from the eventual champions, and a brutal opening defeat for Portugal. Later that tournament, Xherdan Shaqiri put on a show for Switzerland, scoring all three goals in their 3-0 win over Honduras in their final group game. Goals in the 6th, 31st, and 71st minutes? Yeah, he helped send Switzerland into the knockout stage with that standout Swiss performance.

Modern Icons Deliver on the Biggest Stages

The more recent World Cups have brought us some absolute classics. In 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo owned the night against Spain, grabbing a first-half brace and then finishing it off with a late free kick in the 88th minute in a wild 3-3 draw. What a showman, that was one of the great modern World Cup performances! Harry Kane got England’s first hat trick this century, with two of his goals coming from the penalty spot before a deflected third completed it in a 6-1 group-stage win over Panama. That power performance helped him towards the Golden Boot. Then, in 2022, Goncalo Ramos exploded onto the scene, starting instead of Ronaldo and scoring three times as Portugal thrashed Switzerland 6-1. That breakout game turned him into an instant tournament story and helped him earn a move to PSG! And who could forget Kylian Mbappe’s heroics in the 2022 final? France was trailing Argentina, but Mbappe dragged them back, scoring in the 80th, 81st, and 118th minutes. France still lost on penalties, but Mbappe’s performance was legendary. So yeah, just when you think you've seen it all from the GOAT, Lionel Messi goes and adds another impossible chapter to his story. Joining that legendary list with a hat trick in 2026? It just shows you that even the greats can surprise us. What an absolute masterclass! You just gotta wonder what other records he's got his eyes on next. The man is still delivering pure magic!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.