KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lionel Messi, Argentina’s star, used his white-and-blue jersey to wipe tears from his eyes, overwhelmed by emotions after giving Argentina an early lead in the World Cup against Algeria. He then scored two more goals, silencing concerns about his hamstring injury and proving his potential to lead Argentina to consecutive World Cup victories, even as he nears his 39th birthday next week. His hat trick in the 3-0 victory tied him with Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the tournament’s career scoring record.

Messi commented after the match, expressing gratitude for his team and acknowledging non-football-related challenges he’s faced. The first goal stemmed from a smart play with Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, the second from a rebound in the second half, and the third from a direct strike before leaving the field to a standing ovation from 69,045 fans, mostly supporting Argentina.

“At a loss for words about Leo. What can I say?” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.

Messi has been a World Cup fixture for 20 years, debuting in a match against Serbia and Montenegro, scoring in five tournaments. Now with 16 goals across six World Cup appearances, breaking Klose’s record seems inevitable. His hat trick marks the 61st of his career and his 11th for Argentina.

His performance overshadowed other stars, including France’s Kylian Mbappé and Norway’s Erling Haaland, who also had impressive games. Mbappé reached fourth in the World Cup goals list with 14, and Haaland scored twice for Norway.

Shaking Off Injury

Messi had a minor hamstring injury from playing with Inter Miami but showed no issues during a game against Iceland, where he scored a penalty kick. He reflected on his fitness, highlighting the importance of starting the World Cup with a win.

The match against Algeria marked his 200th international appearance since his 2005 debut at age 18. He and Cristiano Ronaldo are the only players to have scored in five World Cups.

“Class is permanent,” said Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic.

Messi’s career longevity is supported by the Argentine team working for him and applauding his achievements.

Fans Flock to Kansas City

Argentina set their base camp in Kansas City, attracting Messi fans from around the world. On the match day, fans wearing Messi jerseys filled the NFL Chiefs’ stadium and Downtown’s Power & Light District held a humorous watch party, featuring a goat in an Argentina jersey, ironically tying into Messi’s growing reputation as the greatest of all time.

Rodrigo De Paul praises Messi, recognizing his leadership and team-first attitude, which pushes the group forward.