Messi equals Klose’s World Cup scoring record with memorable hat trick for Argentina

Lionel Messi scored the first World Cup hat trick of his career and matched Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record on Tuesday night, giving Argentina fans at Arrowhead Stadium an unforgettable performance in their team’s match against Algeria.

Messi opened the scoring in the early minutes after receiving a well-placed pass from his Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul. He added his second goal shortly after the start of the second half and completed his hat trick moments before being substituted, leaving the field to a standing ovation from the crowd.

The achievement came exactly 20 years after Messi made his World Cup debut for Argentina against Serbia and Montenegro, a match in which he also scored. With Tuesday’s goals, Messi became only the second player in history to score in five different World Cup editions.

The Argentine captain now has 16 World Cup goals from six tournament appearances, equalling Klose’s long-standing record. With several matches still ahead, Messi appears well positioned to break the mark in the coming weeks.

It was the 61st hat trick of Messi’s professional career and his 11th for Argentina. He has now scored in five consecutive World Cup matches.

Messi’s performance overshadowed impressive displays by two other global stars on the same day. France forward Kylian Mbappé scored twice in a 3-1 victory over Senegal and moved into a tie for fourth place on the World Cup scoring list with 14 goals. Norway striker Erling Haaland also netted twice in his team’s 4-1 win over Iraq.

The Argentine star, who turns 39 next week, had been managing a minor hamstring problem during his time with Inter Miami before the World Cup. However, he showed no signs of discomfort in a warm-up match against Iceland last week, where he scored from the penalty spot during a 20-minute appearance.

Tuesday’s match against Algeria marked the 200th international appearance of Messi’s career, which began in 2005 when he was 18 years old. Only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who is set to earn his 229th cap on Wednesday, and Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa, who finished with 202 appearances, have played more international matches.

Argentina is one of four national teams using the Kansas City metropolitan area as its World Cup base camp. Since the team’s arrival around two weeks ago, enthusiasm surrounding Messi has swept across the region.

On match day, thousands of supporters wearing Messi’s iconic No. 10 jersey filled the home stadium of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, singing songs in support of the football legend from Rosario.

At a separate watch party in downtown Kansas City’s Power & Light District, former NFL quarterback and current Fox broadcaster Jameis Winston appeared on stage alongside a goat dressed in an Argentina jersey, a playful reference to Messi’s status as the “Greatest of All Time” (GOAT).

The lighthearted scene appeared to foreshadow Messi’s historic night. With every World Cup goal he scores, the argument that he is football’s greatest-ever player continues to gain strength.