In Kansas City, Lionel Messi used his jersey to wipe away tears after scoring early in Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria. Despite concerns over a hamstring injury and his upcoming 39th birthday, Messi delivered a stellar performance with a hat trick, leading Argentina to a 3-0 victory.
Messi’s goals mirrored his key role in Argentina’s quest to secure consecutive World Cup titles. This record achievement placed Messi alongside Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the most goals in World Cup history. After the match, Messi expressed gratitude towards his team and staff, highlighting support during difficult personal times, not directly related to football.
Messi’s emotional first goal came early in the match with a skillful assist from teammate Rodrigo De Paul. His second goal followed a rebound in the second half, capped by a third decisive strike before receiving a standing ovation from a predominately pro-Argentina crowd of 69,045.
“At a loss for words about Leo. What can I say? He’s incredible.”
These words from Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, underscored Messi’s impact over two decades of World Cup play. The start of this event marked 20 years since Messi’s debut in a World Cup match, making him the second player in history to score in five editions. With 16 World Cup goals so far, it seems only a matter of time before Messi surpasses Klose’s record. His hat trick against Algeria was the 61st of his career and his 11th for Argentina.
Messi overshadowed top players like Kylian Mbappé, who scored twice in France’s win over Senegal, and Erling Haaland, who scored twice for Norway against Iraq. After Argentina’s match, Haaland acknowledged Messi’s excellence on social media.
Messi Recovers from Injury to Lead Argentina
Despite concerns over a minor hamstring injury from his time with Inter Miami, Messi impressed during a recent friendly against Iceland, where he scored from a penalty. His sixth World Cup appearance began on a strong note, with Messi stating he felt in good health and happy to start the tournament with a victory.
His 200th international appearance against Algeria highlights a career starting in 2005. Only Cristiano Ronaldo and Bader al-Mutawa have played more international matches. Like Ronaldo, Messi has scored in five World Cups, demonstrating enduring class recognized by many, including Algeria’s coach, Vladimir Petkovic.
Fans Gather in Kansas City to Celebrate Messi
Argentina’s base in Kansas City attracted fans who rallied to support Messi. On match day, thousands wearing his No. 10 jersey filled the venue. At a local watch party, a goat wearing an Argentina jersey symbolized Messi’s legacy as soccer’s greatest of all time.
Messi’s teammate, Rodrigo De Paul, highlighted Messi’s influence on the team, emphasizing his focus on group success over personal accolades. This leadership is key to Argentina’s World Cup campaign.