Lionel Messi He added another chapter to his illustrious legacy on Tuesday, becoming only the second player in history to score in five different FIFA World Cups as defending champions Argentina took control against Algeria at the Arrowhead Stadium.Making his record sixth appearance at soccer’s biggest tournament, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner broke the deadlock with a trademark finish to give Argentina an early 1-0 lead and send a sea of ​​blue and white into celebration inside the Kansas City venue.Messi initially thought he had opened the scoring, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside. But the Argentina captain would not be denied, finding space in the Algerian defense before coolly beating goalkeeper Luca Zidane for his 14th World Cup goal.The strike came exactly 20 years after Messi’s World Cup debut against Serbia and Montenegro in Germany in 2006.
Lionel Messi included. Cristiano Ronaldo In an exclusive club
With the goal, Messi joined Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to have scored in five different editions of the World Cup. Ronaldo became the first player to achieve the feat in Qatar 2022 and will be making his sixth appearance at the tournament.Messi’s latest mark came in his 200th international appearance for Argentina, two decades after his senior debut at the age of 18 in 2005.Only Ronaldo, who is set to earn his 229th cap against DR Congo, and Kuwait’s Badr al-Mutawa have more international appearances among men’s players.
Climbing the all-time World Cup scoring charts
Messi doubled his tally for the night with a simple tap-in in the 60th minute, continuing his steady climb up the list of soccer’s World Cup greatest goalscorers. Sixteen minutes later, the Argentina maestro rolled back the years with a trademark to complete his hat-trick and take his tally of goals in the tournament to 16.The treble moved the Argentina captain level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring charts. Messi’s phenomenal numbers continue to grow with every appearance on football’s grandest stage.By reaching 16 goals, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner surpassed Brazilian icon Ronaldo Nazario, who now sits alone in third place with 15. Right behind Ronaldo is France’s superstar. Kylian Mbappe and West German great Gerd Müller, both scored 14 goals.Mbappe had earlier struck twice in France’s 3-1 victory over Senegal, before Messi’s latest masterclass briefly drew level with Müller and saw him clear alongside Klose at the summit of World Cup goalscoring history.
