Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, has downplayed the significance of becoming the joint highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, insisting that the milestone is “just a statistic” despite producing a historic performance in his country’s opening match of the 2026 tournament.
The 38-year-old forward delivered a masterclass on Tuesday as defending champions Argentina opened their World Cup campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Algeria in Kansas City.
Messi scored all three goals in the encounter, registering the first World Cup hat-trick of his illustrious career and equalling the long-standing scoring record of German legend Miroslav Klose with 16 goals.
The memorable outing came on another landmark occasion for the Argentine superstar, who made his 200th international appearance and became the first footballer in history to feature in six FIFA World Cups.
Playing before a packed crowd at Arrowhead Stadium, Messi once again demonstrated the quality that has defined his career. His opening goal arrived in the 17th minute with a curling effort that moved him onto 14 World Cup goals, level with German icon Gerd Müller and France forward Kylian Mbappé in the tournament’s all-time scoring rankings.
He added his second goal in the 60th minute after reacting quickest to a rebound from an effort by Alexis Mac Allister, taking his tally to 15 goals and drawing level with Brazilian great Ronaldo Nazário.
Messi completed his historic hat-trick in the 76th minute with a composed low finish from the edge of the penalty area, bringing his World Cup tally to 16 goals and matching Klose’s record. He was substituted four minutes later to a standing ovation from supporters who witnessed yet another chapter in his remarkable international career.
Despite the historic achievement, Messi insisted that personal records were not his primary concern and preferred to focus on the collective success of the team.
Speaking after the match, the Inter Miami star described the occasion as a special moment to share with those closest to him.
“To enjoy this with my family, with my teammates, the ones who are always there, is a really beautiful moment. I am happy,” he said.
While acknowledging the prestige attached to joining some of football’s greatest goalscorers, Messi stressed that statistics alone do not define a player’s legacy.
“It is an honour to be there, given what it means to stand alongside Klose and the others,” he said.
“Ronaldo is there too, but I don’t think it means anything. Mbappe is there as well. In the end, it is just a statistic and nothing more.”
Messi’s performance has further strengthened expectations that Argentina could become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup title.
The Argentine captain praised the spirit within the squad and emphasised the importance of beginning the tournament with a victory.
“The squad is a very united and very strong group. I feel good. We were lucky enough to win a difficult match. It is important to start with a win in the first game,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude to Argentine supporters, whose presence and backing once again turned the stadium into a sea of blue and white.
“I am grateful to the fans because once again they have shown that Argentina is crazy about this. We packed the stadium again,” Messi added.
With the World Cup now underway, Argentina’s emphatic opening victory and Messi’s record-equalling display have sent a strong message to the rest of the tournament, as the holders pursue another historic triumph on the global stage.
