‘It’s not a big deal,’ Messi reacts after equalling World Cup record

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has downplayed his latest World Cup milestone after becoming the tournament’s joint all-time leading scorer, insisting the record is “just a statistic.”

The 38-year-old forward delivered a masterclass performance on Wednesday, scoring his first-ever World Cup hat-trick as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in Kansas City.

The three-goal haul took Messi’s World Cup tally to 16 goals, drawing him level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose at the top of the tournament’s all-time scoring chart.

Brazilian icon Ronaldo sits next on the list with 15 goals, while Germany great Gerd Müller and France star Kylian Mbappé follow closely behind.

Despite the historic achievement, Messi remained modest after the match.

“To enjoy this with my family, with my teammates, the ones who are always there, is a really beautiful moment,” Messi said.

“I’m happy. It’s an honour to be there, considering what it means to stand alongside Klose and the other great players.

“Ronaldo is there too, and Mbappé, who scored twice today. But in the end, it’s just a statistic and nothing more.”

Messi’s clinical display has further strengthened Argentina’s bid to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup title.

The Inter Miami star praised the spirit within the Argentine squad following their opening victory.

“This is a very united and very strong group,” he said.

“I feel good. We knew it would be a difficult game, and it was important to start the tournament with a win.

“I’m also grateful to our supporters. Once again, they showed how passionate Argentina is about football. They packed the stadium and gave us incredible support.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted he had run out of words to describe Messi’s influence.

“For 20 years, he has made extraordinary things look normal,” Scaloni said.

“He inspires everyone who watches him play.”

Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister also hailed the veteran forward, describing him as the heartbeat of the national team.

“If anyone thought this team could be better without Leo, today proved otherwise,” Mac Allister said.

“Leo remains the most important player for us.”

Rodrigo De Paul, who assisted Messi’s opening goal, summed up the performance in simple terms.

“He’s a beast,” De Paul said.