For nearly two decades, football fans have watched Lionel Messi rewrite the record books.
On Wednesday night in Kansas City, the Argentine captain added another remarkable achievement to his storied career.
The 38-year-old scored his first-ever World Cup hat-trick as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0, moving level with Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s joint all-time leading goalscorer with 16 goals.
But while fans celebrated the historic moment, Messi was quick to play down the significance of the record.
“To enjoy this with my family, with my teammates, the ones who are always there, is a really beautiful moment,” he said.
“I’m happy.”
The Inter Miami forward described it as an honour to share the record with some of football’s greatest names.
“It’s an honour to be there, given what it means to stand alongside Klose or the others,” Messi said.
“Ronaldo is there too, but I don’t think it means anything — Mbappe as well, who scored two today.
“In the end, it’s just a statistic and nothing more.”
Messi’s latest feat places him ahead of Brazilian legend Ronaldo, who has 15 World Cup goals, while Germany’s Gerd Müller and France forward Kylian Mbappé follow closely behind.
Beyond the numbers, however, Messi’s performance has reignited hopes that Argentina could become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup title.
The captain believes the team’s unity could be the key.
“The squad, it’s a very united, very strong group,” he said.
“I feel good. We were lucky enough to win a tough match. It’s important to start off with a win in the first game.”
Messi also thanked Argentina’s supporters, who turned the stadium into a sea of blue and white.
“I’m grateful to the fans, because once again they’ve shown that Argentina is crazy about this — we packed the stadium again.”
Head coach Lionel Scaloni admitted he has run out of ways to describe his captain’s impact.
“For 20 years, he’s had us used to seeing things like this, and he inspires everyone who watches him play,” Scaloni said.
Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister echoed that sentiment, insisting Messi remains the heartbeat of the team despite his veteran status.
“If anyone thought this group was better off without Leo, today it became clear that Leo is the most important of them all,” he said.
Rodrigo De Paul, who set up Messi’s opening goal, summed up the performance in simpler terms.
“He’s a beast.”
At 38, Messi continues to prove that age is no barrier to greatness.
And while he may insist that records are only statistics, each new milestone adds another chapter to a legacy that has already transformed football history.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.