FIFA wasted little time in acknowledging that the 38-year-old Argentine forward is now the joint top World Cup goalscorer.
By Kehinde Okeowo
World football’s governing body, FIFA, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, and Norway striker Erling Haaland have all sung the praises of Argentina captain Lionel Messi after he bagged a hat-trick on Wednesday morning.
The 38-year-old rolled back the years with a sensational performance as Argentina began their 2026 FIFA World Cup title defence in style, defeating Algeria 3-0 courtesy of his three goals.
With this feat, the legendary forward etched his name into football history by matching Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record as the competition’s all-time leading scorer.
Following the final whistle of the Albiceleste’s emphatic win against the North Africans, FIFA wasted little time in acknowledging Messi’s latest masterpiece.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the football body posted a series of messages eulogising the hugely talented Argentine star.
In one of the now-trending posts on its official handle, FIFA wrote, “3 goals, 3 points, 1 Messi,” adding “Classic Messi” in another.
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It also noted in another message that, “Lionel Messi is now the joint top #FIFAWorldCup goalscorer.”
Also reacting to the hat-trick like millions of football fans around the world, Haaland—who had earlier bagged a brace for Norway in their 4-1 win over Iraq—was clearly impressed by what he saw.
While watching the game, the Manchester City forward posted a message on Snapchat that immediately grabbed netizens’ attention, writing: “Messi is a madman 👑.”
Similarly, while speaking on Fox TV, Henry praised Messi’s talent and incredible longevity in the game.
He said: “I’ve played against some of the greatest footballers in history, I’ve watched some of the greatest footballers in history, but what Messi continues to do at 38 years old simply doesn’t make sense.
”This is no longer about talent. This is no longer about numbers. This is football history unfolding right before our eyes, and every single match feels like another chapter in a story that nobody thought was possible.”
