Soccer's premier goal scorers, led by Lionel Messi, show up to the World Cup with a bang

Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates scoring his team's second goal during their 2026 World Cup game against Algeria in Kansas City, Mo. Messi would add a third as Argentina began defense of its 2022 title. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images In the lead-up to this World Cup , some people whispered: Why is Lionel Messi playing again, after propelling Argentina to the title four years ago ? A week shy of his 39th birthday, was he too old? Was he fit enough? On Tuesday, as Argentina began defense of its World Cup championship, the doubters are no longer doubting. Messi scored not one, not two, but three goals against Algeria in a 3-0 victory in the opening match of Group J in front of a capacity crowd of nearly 70,000 at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium. In a remarkable career, Messi managed to do something that he'd not done before at the World Cup: a hat-trick. Twenty years to the day he scored his first World Cup goal, he moved into a tie for the all-time goal scoring lead with 16 (even with Germany's Miroslav Klose). Messi's three goals set up what's expected to be a thrilling subplot to this World Cup: Who will win the Golden Boot award , given to the top goal scorer at every World Cup. …