Lionel Messi delivered a performance for the ages as he equalled Miroslav Klose’s all-time men’s World Cup goalscoring record, firing reigning champions Argentina to an emphatic 3-0 victory over Algeria in their opening Group J match at Arrowhead Stadium.
The 39-year-old living legend scored a sensational hat-trick, taking his World Cup tally from 13 to 16 goals and pulling level with the German great Klose at the top of the all-time list.
Messi’s goals came in the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes, providing a masterclass in finishing that left the Algerian defenders and goalkeeper Luca Zidane helpless.
He opened the scoring early with a trademark left-footed thunderbolt from outside the box. He doubled the lead in the 60th minute by pouncing on a rebound after Zidane spilled an Alexis Mac Allister shot.
The record-equalling moment arrived in the 76th minute when Messi received a pass from Nico González just at the edge of the box, composed himself, and unleashed another thunderous left-footed strike into the bottom corner of the post.
With this historic hat-trick, Messi has now etched his name alongside Klose as the joint-highest scorer in World Cup history. The achievement adds yet another chapter to the Argentine icon’s extraordinary legacy as he begins the defence of the 2022 title he helped win so memorably in Qatar.
All eyes will now be on Messi in their next game against Austria on June 22 at the AT&T Stadium as he continues his pursuit of further records in what could be his final World Cup
By: Iddrisu Abdul Rahim
