June 17, 2026 | Burma Independent Voice
Argentina captain Lionel Messi hailed it as an “incredibly beautiful moment” on Wednesday after matching the all-time FIFA World Cup scoring record during his historic sixth tournament appearance.
The 38-year-old Argentine legend cemented another monumental career milestone by netting a sensational hat-trick during Argentina’s commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
The clinical hat-trick marks Messi’s first-ever in a World Cup tournament, bringing his career total to 16 goals on the world stage and drawing him level with former German striker Miroslav Klose’s long-standing tournament record.
“To be able to share and celebrate this achievement alongside my family and my teammates—who have always stood by me—is truly a beautiful moment. I am incredibly happy,” the Inter Miami superstar remarked in his post-match interview. Messi’s sharp goalscoring form injects substantial momentum into Argentina’s aspirations of becoming the first nation to retain the World Cup trophy back-to-back since Brazil in 1962.
“We are a highly united and incredibly strong group. Personally, I feel great. We were fortunate to secure a victory in what was a demanding match. Starting the tournament with a win is paramount,” Messi added. “I also want to thank the fans; Argentine people have once again proven their immense passion for football by turning out in droves and packing the entire stadium.”
Meanwhile, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni admitted he was running out of superlatives for his talisman. “I have no words left to describe Messi,” Scaloni said, praising the veteran’s enduring brilliance. “For nearly 20 years, he has consistently delivered these spectacles for us, serving as a profound source of inspiration to anyone who watches him play.”
Looking ahead, Scaloni is aiming to secure early qualification for the knockout stages in their second Group J fixture against Austria this coming Monday.
“We are taking this tournament one game at a time. The squad is in high spirits, and we were able to distribute crucial playing minutes to several players today. Our hope is to secure another victory in the next match so we can feel relaxed ahead of the final group fixture,” the coach concluded.
