Lionel Messi has spent two decades making the impossible look routine, but even by his standards, Tuesday night was something else. In Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria, the 38-year-old delivered a performance that had fans, fellow athletes, and even rival commentators reaching for superlatives they’d thought were worn out.
Messi pulled up in the 17th minute and let fly from outside the box, sending a rocket that left Algeria’s goalkeeper frozen and Kansas City Stadium erupting. The goal itself wasn’t just a highlight — it was a statement. At an age when most players are retired or at least reduced to supporting roles, Messi is still out here dictating the pace of a World Cup match.
When he scored again in the 60th minute, it looked like business as usual for the defending champions. Then came the 76th-minute strike, completing the hat trick and bringing his all-time World Cup goal total to 16 — tying Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the most in tournament history. The crowd didn’t just cheer; they rose in something close to reverence.
Even the NFL crowd took notice
Pat McAfee, the former All-Pro punter turned media juggernaut, fired off a post on X that captured the moment: “THE GOAT’S SWAN SONG. THANK YOU LOU.” Meanwhile, Skip Bayless, rarely one to share a consensus take, leaned fully into the spectacle: “MESSI, almost 39, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.” Even Patrick Mahomes, watching from the stands, was caught on camera visibly reacting to Messi’s first goal.
For context, this is Messi’s sixth World Cup. He’s been playing at this level longer than some of his current teammates have been alive. And while Argentina came in as the defending champions — having won the 2022 final — there were questions about whether this aging squad could recapture that magic. Based on this performance, those questions feel a little premature.
The record is now in reach
Messi’s 16 goals tie Klose’s record, but the way he’s playing, it seems less a matter of if and more of when he surpasses it. Argentina’s group-stage schedule still includes a matchup with Austria next Monday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. With Messi in this form, that record could fall before the knockout rounds even begin.
Of course, the bigger narrative here isn’t just the numbers — it’s the farewell. Messi has hinted that the 2026 World Cup is his last major tournament, and observers are now watching every touch as if it might be his last on this stage. Fans online noted the emotional weight of the moment, with many calling it a “victory lap” for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Algeria, to their credit, didn’t make things easy. They pressed high and tried to disrupt Argentina’s rhythm in the first 15 minutes. But Messi, as he’s done so many times, found a gap, and once he did, the game was effectively over. The rest of the tournament now carries a singular storyline: Can anyone stop Messi from writing the final chapter on his terms?
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