Can Messi Win the Golden Boot at 38? Hat-Trick Ties Klose Record

At 38 years old, can Lionel Messi still carry Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup title? That question became urgent after his display against Algeria at the 2026 tournament.

Messi scored his first World Cup hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Algeria. Three goals in one match—a rarity at this stage of his career—tied him with Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup record of 16 total goals.

Most players retire from international football long before 38. Messi is 38 years old at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, yet he remains Argentina’s most dangerous attacking weapon as the team chases back-to-back championships.

Argentina has already beaten Cabo Verde and Egypt in tournament play, and they’re building toward a historic achievement: becoming the third nation to win consecutive World Cups. With Messi playing this well, a deep run looks plausible.

The betting markets certainly think so. As of publication, Messi’s chances of winning the Golden Boot—handed to the tournament’s leading scorer—sat at 38.4%. Whether he breaks Klose’s record and takes home the award remains open, but that hat-trick against Algeria suggests his World Cup story isn’t finished yet.