Lionel Messi equals World Cup top goalscorer record after stunning Argentina hat-trick | OneFootball

Lionel Messi equalled the all-time World Cup top goalscorer record after a hat-trick for Argentina against Algeria in Kansas City.

The 38-year-old is now on 16 career World Cup goals, one clear of Brazil’s Ronaldo and level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose, after producing a sensational display for the world champions to inspire his side to a 3-0 lead at Arrowhead.

It was Messi’s first-ever hat-trick in the World Cup and confirmed his fifth tournament with a goal, joining Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to ever achieve that.

Messi had broken the deadlock with a powerful strike from range with Luca Zidane’s fingertips unable to stop the shot and his second came from an instinctive rebound after Alexis Mac Allister’s shot was spilled by the goalkeeper.

The third was a trademark Messi goal after Nico Gonzalez squared to the Inter Miami star on the edge of the area. One touch put the ball on the outside of his left foot and a sweeping finish guided the ball powerfully into the bottom left corner from outside of the box to put the game beyond the Algerians.

Messi was then withdrawn in the 79th minute to a standing ovation after delivering the perfect start for Lionel Scaloni’s side.

Argentina fans had turned Arrowhead into a blue and white cauldron for the defending world champions, with Fifa president Gianni Infantino and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and fellow adidas athlete Patrick Mahomes watching on with delight from the stands.

Next up for Messi, when he will attempt to claim the top scorer record for himself, is Austria on 22 June in Dallas, before rounding out Group J against Jordan on 27 June.

Earlier in the day Kylian Mbappe had closed in on Klose’s record himself, hitting a double in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal to move him up to fourth on 14 goals and, depending on far their respective teams go in the tournament Mbappe and Messi may find themselves leapfrogging each other for the overall record.

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(AP)

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(AP)

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(AP)

Fifa World Cup Overall Top Scorers

1. Miroslav Klose, Germany 16

1. Lionel Messi, Argentina 16

3. Ronaldo, Brazil 15

4. Gerd Müller, West Germany 14

4. Kylian Mbappé, France 14

6. Just Fontaine, France 13

7. Pelé, Brazil 12

8. Sándor Kocsis, Hungary 11

8. Jürgen Klinsmann 11

10. Helmut Rahn, West Germany 10

10. Gary Lineker, England 10

10. Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina 10

10. Teófilo Cubillas, Peru 10

10. Thomas Müller, Germany 10

10. Grzegorz Lato, Hungary 10