KANSAS CITY: Argentina captain Lionel Messi equaled the FIFA World Cup goal-scoring record held by German great Miroslav Klose after netting a hat trick in Argentina’s emphatic victory over Algeria.
The 38-year-old forward delivered a memorable performance, scoring three times to guide Argentina to a convincing win while also reaching several personal milestones.
According to FIFA records, it was the first World Cup hat trick of Messi’s illustrious career. At 38 years and 357 days old, he also became the oldest player in tournament history to score a hat trick at a FIFA World Cup.
Messi’s three goals took his World Cup tally to 16, matching the record set by former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who previously stood alone as the competition’s all-time leading scorer.
The latest achievement adds another chapter to Messi’s remarkable World Cup legacy, further cementing his place among the greatest players in football history.
More read, Messi shines as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 in World Cup opener
Earlier, Lionel Messi produced a breathtaking, record-breaking masterclass as he lit up the opening of his sixth FIFA World Cup with a sensational hat-trick, powering defending champions Argentina to a dominant 3-0 win over Algeria and sending an early warning to the rest of the tournament contenders.
On a charged and electric night at Kansas City’s iconic Arrowhead Stadium, Messi once again turned global attention toward his magic.
At 38, in what was already a landmark 200th international appearance, the Argentine captain delivered a performance that blended experience, brilliance and pure footballing artistry as he became the joint all-time top scorer in World Cup history, equalling Germany’s Miroslav Klose with 16 goals.
