FIFA World Cup 2026: Messi scores FIFA World Cup hat-trick as Ronaldo fails to win in 1st round match
There are few rivalries in sports that can survive the passage of time like Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo.
For nearly two decades, soccer fans have been pitted against each other. Goals, trophies, Ballon d’Ors, records and influence have all turned into chapters in a debate that refuses to die down, even as both men approach the twilight of their careers.
And after the opening round of matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the scoreboard reads quite emphatically: Messi 3, Ronaldo 0. From the outside, it looks brutal.
Messi scored a stunning hat-trick against Algeria became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick and equaled Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals. Ronaldo, meanwhile, walked away from Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo without a goal, without a shot on target and without the bit of history he was hoping for.
Yet for all the attention the contrasting performances have garnered, was any of it really surprising?
MESSI CONTINUES TO DEFY LOGIC
Lionel Messi scores against Algeria (Photo Reuters)
If there was any real surprise from the opening round, it was Messi. Not because he’s incapable of brilliance – at this stage doubting Messi feels like a temptation – but because of the sheer scale of what he’s produced.
At 38 and just days shy of turning 39, Messi was expected to lead Argentina through the tournament with intelligence, experience and quality moments. Instead, he delivered one of the competitive performances, scoring all three goals in Argentina’s victory and once again become the center of football’s biggest conversation.
The remarkable thing about Messi’s World Cup journey is that it should have reached a perfect end four years ago in Qatar. He lifted the trophy, won the Ballon d’Or and completed the only achievement that had eluded him during his career.
Yet here he is again, not only participating but dominating.
Even by Messi’s standards, a World Cup hat-trick at that age was extraordinary. Four years after leading Argentina to glory, he continues to add new pages to a legacy many believed to be complete.
RONALDO’S STRIKES WERE NOT A SURPRISE
Ronaldo’s struggles, on the other hand, did not come out of nowhere. The Portugal captain entered the Euro 2024 tournament without a goal and was also winless in Portugal’s pre-World Cup warm-ups against Chile and Nigeria.
Long before the opening whistle against DR Congo, there were questions about whether the 41-year-old could still consistently influence matches at the highest level.
With regard to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, these fears have only intensified. Ronaldo managed just 25 touches and spent much of the evening isolated inside the penalty area as Portugal struggled to turn possession into meaningful chances. A dejected Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the country after scoring against DR Congo (Photo Reuters)
To be fair, Portugal’s midfield did him little favour. Despite boasting Joo Neves, Vitinho, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, Roberto Martinez’s side lacked imagination and urgency in the final third. Crosses were rare, passing patterns became predictable and Ronaldo often waited for opportunities that never came.
But while lack of service explains part of the story, it doesn’t explain the whole story. There was a time when Ronaldo was able to impose himself on the game regardless of the circumstances. Against DR Congo, he rarely seemed to be able to do that.
This is not so much a criticism as an acknowledgment of reality. Football has always treated time as its fiercest opponent, and even the greatest players eventually find themselves in a battle they can’t quite win.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF BATTLE CARE
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of this World Cup is that Messi and Ronaldo are no longer competing on equal terms.
Messi is now judged by history. Every goal, every assist and every performance feels like an attempt to push the boundaries of what should be possible at his age.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, is increasingly judged against his own past. Every scoreless outing inevitably raises questions about whether a player who once broke records with relentless regularity can still play on football’s biggest stage.
That doesn’t mean his tournament is over. Ronaldo remains one goal away from becoming the first player to score at six different World Cups and still has opportunities to do so.
However, after the 1st round, the contrast could have been sharper. Messi exceeded expectations, while Ronaldo largely confirmed the fears that accompanied him into the tournament.
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Published on:
18 Jun 2026 09:19 IST