KANSAS CITY, Mo. (FN) — Lionel Messi brushed aside his latest milestone Tuesday after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria, saying his World Cup goal tally is “just a number.”
The 38-year-old forward’s three goals brought him level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the joint all-time top scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 16 goals. It was also Messi’s first-ever World Cup hat-trick.
“To enjoy this with my family, with my teammates, the ones who are always there, is a really beautiful moment. I’m happy,” Messi said. “It’s an honour to stand alongside Klose or the others. Ronaldo is there too, Mbappé as well, but in the end, it’s just a statistic and nothing more.”
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised Messi’s consistency. “For 20 years, he’s had us used to seeing things like this, and he inspires everyone who watches him play,” Scaloni said. Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister called Messi “the most important of them all,” while Rodrigo De Paul, who assisted one of the goals, described him simply as “a beast.”
Messi’s performance gave Argentina a strong start to their World Cup campaign, reinforcing his central role in their bid to retain the title.
Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, has won every major trophy available to him, including the Copa América, Champions League, and the 2022 World Cup. His longevity and brilliance have kept him at the heart of Argentina’s success across two decades.
The FIFA World Cup, first held in 1930, remains the pinnacle of international football, with records like Klose’s and Messi’s standing as benchmarks of greatness.
On social media, fans celebrated Messi’s achievement with hashtags like #MessiGOAT and #WorldCupLegend, while others echoed his humility, saying the joy of watching him play mattered more than numbers. Football authorities hailed the record as historic, with FIFA noting that Messi’s feat “cements his place among the immortals.” Social commentators pointed out that his remarks reflect a broader truth about sport that memories and emotions often outweigh statistics.
Football lovers around the world expressed awe. “We are lucky to witness this era,” one supporter wrote. Another added, “Messi makes records look ordinary, but they are extraordinary.”
Messi’s hat-trick may be “just a number” to him, but to Argentina and millions of fans worldwide, it was another unforgettable chapter in his storied career.
