For many footballers, turning 38 signals the twilight of a remarkable career. For Argentina captain Lionel Messi, it is another opportunity to make history.
The football icon delivered a stunning hat-trick as defending champions Argentina opened their World Cup title defence with a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria in Group J on Tuesday. In the process, Messi matched Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals, adding yet another milestone to an already extraordinary career.
The night became a celebration of records for the Argentine captain. His three goals saw him reach 16 World Cup goals, drawing level with Klose as the tournament’s joint all-time leading scorer. He also became the first player in men’s World Cup history to feature in six editions of the competition and marked his 200th appearance for Argentina in memorable fashion.
Messi set the tone early, curling a trademark effort into the net in the 17th minute. He doubled Argentina’s advantage just after the hour mark with a close-range finish before completing his hat-trick in the 76th minute with a precise strike into the bottom corner, sending fans into celebration and cementing his place in World Cup history once again.
The emphatic victory gives Argentina a perfect start to their campaign as they seek to defend the title they won in 2022. It also sends a strong warning to their Group J rivals that the reigning champions remain serious contenders.
With his 39th birthday approaching on June 24, Messi continues to challenge expectations about age and longevity in football. Six World Cups, 200 international caps and now 16 World Cup goals place him among the greatest players the sport has ever seen.
For now, the World Cup scoring record is shared with Klose. But with Argentina still having plenty of matches ahead, Messi is just one goal away from standing alone at the summit and adding another unforgettable chapter to his legendary career.
