Doha, Jun 22 (V7N) – Lionel Messi continues to rewrite football history as the Argentine legend moves within reach of several all-time World Cup records following a sensational hat-trick performance against Algeria.
The Argentine captain, already regarded as one of the greatest players in football history, added another milestone to his extraordinary career by taking his World Cup goal tally to 16. The achievement places him level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose at the top of the all-time scoring chart. A goal in his next match would see Messi become the outright leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history.
Messi’s recent form has also brought him closer to another record held by Klose. With 17 World Cup match victories, he is now tied with the German striker for the most wins by a player in the tournament’s history. A win in Argentina’s next fixture against Austria would see him move ahead as the record holder.
The Argentine superstar is also closing in on the record for most goals scored from outside the penalty area in World Cup history. His strike against Algeria marked his fifth such goal, drawing him level with Brazil legend Rivelino. Messi previously scored from distance against Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria (2014), and Mexico (2022), and now stands on the verge of claiming the record outright.
In addition, Messi remains joint with long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo for the most FIFA World Cup appearances, having featured in six editions of the tournament.
With records falling and milestones within reach, Messi’s latest performance has once again reinforced his status as one of football’s most prolific and influential figures on the world stage.
END/SMA/AJ
