Messi equals iconic World Cup record with stunning hat-trick
Lionel Messi has lit up the World Cup with a dazzling hat-trick for Argentina against Algeria in Kansas City.
The 38-year-old wonder added two second half goals to his first half strike to go top of the early golden boot race on Wednesday (AEST).
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AP Photo/Ed Zurga
Messi is now equal with Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the highest goalscorer in World Cup history with 16.
Fellow superstars Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland had both scored doubles earlier on day six of the tournament.
“Messi is a madman,” Haaland said amid his hat-trick in a post on Snapchat.
France captain Mbappe, 27, has scored 14 World Cup goals.
Messi’s Argentina are the defending champions and outclassed Algeria 3-0 to make a statement that, despite an ageing squad, they are far from a spent force.
“At a loss for words about Leo. What can I say? He’s incredible,” Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said.
His second goal was an easy follow after Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane’s fumble but his first and third were typical left-footed, pinpoint beauties.
“Messi is acting like it’s his first-ever World Cup goal with the celebrations, and with the ability he has - he never seems to age,” former Everton midfielder Leon Osman said on BBC Radio 5.
It was Messi’s first World Cup hat-trick as he struck in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes before leaving the pitch to rapturous applause.
Lionel Messi of Argentina is congratulated by Lionel Scaloni. Getty Images
“It makes me very happy to have lived through everything that came my way. What I’m living though now is the cherry on top,” Messi said.
“I’m very happy and grateful for this wonderful group. I enjoy it so much... my tears after the first goal? I’ve had some tough days. It wasn’t related to football.
“And those feelings were because of that. I thank my teammates, the coaching staff and the delegation for helping me.”
Many Argentina fans were in tears of joy as he became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick - exactly 20 years to the day since his first goal at the global tournament.
He had the crowd celebrating what they thought was a dream start with a goal in the opening five minutes but it was chalked off for offside.
So it felt inevitable that it was the star forward who would rise to the moment for the raucous sea of sky blue and white, with what seemed like every fan in the stands wearing a shirt bearing his name as he gave them another moment of magic.
Lionel Messi. Getty Images
Messi netted his first in the 17th minute when he collected a brilliant through ball from Rodrigo De Paul, who slipped a perfectly weighted pass between Algeria’s backline.
Messi drove forward before unleashing a rocket from about 25 yards out that glanced off the fingertips of Zidane - son of France great Zinedine who was in the crowd - and into the top-right corner.
He struck his second in the 60th minute when Alexis Mac Allister fired a low drive from 25 yards that Zidane fumbled badly, the ball spilling awkwardly off his chest and dropping invitingly for Messi, who guided it into the net.
Messi almost completed his hat-trick about five minutes later, but Zidane leapt to push his shot over the bar, yet he did find the net again in the 76th minute with another blistering strike, teed up by substitute Nico Gonzalez.
Algeria’s Fares Chaibi had briefly celebrated what he thought was the opening goal a couple of minutes after Messi’s disallowed effort, but it was also ruled offside.
Fans celebrate Argentina's first goal. AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd
Algeria fans screamed for a red card when Messi stepped on the calf of Aissa Mandi in the first half, but there was no sanction against him.
Argentina are aiming to become the first men’s team to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.
They arrived wary of another stumble, mindful of how their past two World Cup campaigns had begun with a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2022 and a frustrating draw with Iceland four years earlier.
Questions lingered too over this side’s credentials, with Lionel Scaloni’s team having gone years without facing European opposition until a 3-0 friendly win over Iceland last week, their first match against a European opponent since the last World Cup.
Those doubts were swept aside as the holders delivered a composed and authoritative performance that signalled they will again be a formidable force.
