Messi scores first World Cup hat-trick, equals all-time goals record
The 38-year-old captain, who also became the first men's player to feature in six editions of the FIFA World Cup, marked his historic appearance by reaching another milestone in an illustrious career.
Lionel Messi scored his first-ever FIFA World Cup hat-trick as Argentina opened their campaign with a victory over Algeria in Kansas City today (17 June), drawing level with the tournament's all-time scoring record.
The 38-year-old captain, who also became the first men's player to feature in six editions of the FIFA World Cup, marked his historic appearance by reaching another milestone in an illustrious career.
Messi's latest goals took his World Cup tally to a record-equalling mark, adding another chapter to a career that already includes the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar.
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The appearance was also his 200th international match for Argentina, making him only the third men's player to reach the milestone after Cristiano Ronaldo and Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa.
Messi made his World Cup debut as an 18-year-old at the 2006 tournament in Germany and had previously indicated that the 2022 edition would be his final appearance on football's biggest stage.
However, the Inter Miami forward returned for another campaign and arrived at the tournament in strong form, having scored 13 goals in 16 Major League Soccer matches this year.
"I love playing football, and I'm going to do it until I can't anymore," Messi said recently.
