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Lionel Messi saluted a “beautiful moment” aft becoming the World Cup’s joint all-time starring goalscorer successful his record-breaking sixth finals quality connected Tuesday (June 16, 2026).
The 38-year-old Argentina skipper etched different memorable section successful his glittering career with a superb hat-trick successful the South Americans’ 3-0 triumph implicit Algeria astatine Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium.
FIFA World Cup 2026 | Argentina vs Algeria Highlights
Messi’s hat-trick — his archetypal ever successful the World Cup — vaulted him alongside Germany’s Miroslav Klose arsenic the apical scorer successful the tournament’s past with 16 goals.
“To bask this with my family, with my teammates, the ones who are ever there, is simply a truly beauteous moment,” Inter Miami prima Messi said afterwards. “I’m happy.”
Messi’s razor-sharp oculus for extremity augurs good for Argentina’s hopes of becoming the archetypal squad since Brazil successful 1962 to triumph back-to-back World Cup titles.
“The squad, it’s a precise united, precise beardown group,” Messi said afterwards.
“I consciousness good; we were fortunate capable to triumph a pugnacious match. It’s important to commencement disconnected with a triumph successful the archetypal game.
“I’m grateful to the fans, due to the fact that erstwhile again they’ve shown that Argentina is brainsick astir this — we packed the stadium again.”
