Messi is eternal: he scores three goals and is already the all-time top scorer in World Cup history

BarcelonaThree cries in the early morning woke many residents in Catalonia. They were Argentinians living here or Catalans who miss Messi. The former Barça player debuted on Wednesday morning in Kansas City in his sixth World Cup. He did so exactly on the day that marked 20 years since his first match in a World Cup, a distant 2006 in Germany. Messi entered the field defending the crown won four years ago in Qatar, when he finally became champion. The Argentinians faced Algeria in a test that was supposed to allow an understanding of their level of play, after playing few high-level friendlies in recent months. And they passed the test with flying colors thanks to three goals from their captain. There were people who said he shouldn't be a starter because he's already a veteran. Others said he lives permanently on vacation in Miami. In reality, Messi is eternal and scored the three goals for the albiceleste. He even scored a fourth goal that didn't make it onto the scoreboard. He also made a mistake when he stepped heavily on an opponent, playing with fire. The Algerians asked for a red card, but the referee didn't send him off.

It was a scare within a match where Messi basically did what he wanted. As he has done for more than 20 years of his career. This was his first hat trick in a World Cup. Three goals that allowed him to tie with Germany's Miroslav Klose as the all-time top scorer in World Cups, with 16 goals. And all this, just hours after seeing Kylian Mbappé score two goals against Senegal and present his candidacy to be the all-time top scorer of the World Cup. Messi responded immediately, competitive as he is, like he used to do against Cristiano Ronaldo years ago when the Portuguese was at Real Madrid.

He scored the first goal by controlling the ball between the lines in the 17th minute. The usual Messi: he is the most famous, but surprisingly he always manages to be alone. The defenders get distracted for a second and it's already too late. His shot beat Luca Zidane, son of the Real Madrid legend, who plays for the national team of his grandparents' homeland, Algeria. When Messi debuted in a World Cup in 2006, Zinedine Zidane was playing. Now he scores goals against his son. It was a good start for the Argentinians, as Lautaro Martínez had already warned of Argentina's intentions with a header that Zidane saved. With Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister in midfield, the team coached by Lionel Scaloni grew into the game.

The second goal arrived in the second half, when Mac Allister shot from outside the box, Zidane fumbled, leaving the ball loose, and Messi took advantage to seal the victory for the current world champion. He scored the third in the 76th minute by taking advantage of a pass from Nicolás González and scoring one of those shots from the edge of the area that he took so many times in a blaugrana shirt. Lionel Scaloni, aware of what was happening, decided to substitute him a few minutes before the end so that the thousands present in Kansas City could pay homage to him. Argentinians and North Americans. And some Algerians. And neutral fans. And all those who have not slept in Catalonia. Scaloni seemed emotional when he hugged Messi, as he knew it was a special match since the footballer had gone through some complicated days. “I got emotional for a reason totally unrelated to football. I've had difficult, complicated days. I want to thank the entire delegation, my teammates, because as always they have helped me,” he said.

The Argentine also explained that these days he is watching a documentary about Rafa Nadal: “We are watching the series and we are very similar, I identify a lot with him. I always want to give my all and I want to feel good, I enjoy myself this way”. He seeks to be inspired by another athlete who extended his career for many years. “I couldn’t imagine this or anything that has happened to me. Everything I am experiencing is incredible. I have been lucky enough to live more than I could have dreamed of individually and as a group. Today I am enjoying a beautiful group” explained a more talkative Messi than usual.

Spectacular figures

Eight years ago, when a young Mbappé's France eliminated him in the Russia World Cup, many thought that at 31 years old, he would never win a World Cup again. But Messi would do it in 2022 in Qatar and still has gas in the tank for this edition, playing in the country where he has lived for a few years, at Inter Miami, where he continues to score goals with the pink jersey of this team that doesn't stop selling kits with the Argentine's name on the back.

Messi will turn 39 next week. And he continues to increase his statistics. The Rosario player already has 913 goals in his career, for example. Who knows if he will reach 1,000. For now, he was able to score in a World Cup 20 years after his debut on June 16, 2006, against the Serbia and Montenegro team in Germany. With his performance, he surpassed the goal record in a final phase of great scorers like the 14 goals of German Gerd Müller and the 15 of Brazilian Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima.

After his two goals against Senegal, Mbappé has 14, so the Qatar World Cup duel seems likely to be repeated in the coming matchdays. Whatever the case, Messi's debut was very encouraging. It was like meeting the great love of your life again after a few years and realizing that she is still a fascinating person. The same half-shy smile when he scores, the same movements between the lines, starting to run like a madman when until recently he was walking. Those dry and direct shots. The Messi of always.