Messi downplays significance of all-time World Cup scoring mark

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Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, savoured a “beautiful moment” after becoming the World Cup’s joint all-time leading goalscorer on Wednesday, but said, “ultimately, it is just a statistic, nothing more”.

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The 38-year-old forward etched another memorable chapter in his glittering career with a brilliant hat-trick in the South Americans’ 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City.

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Messi’s hat-trick, his first ever at a World Cup, vaulted him alongside Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the top scorer in the tournament’s history with 16 goals.

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Next on the list is Brazilian great Ronaldo, with 15 goals, one ahead of Gerd Muller and current France star Kylian Mbappe.

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“To enjoy this with my family, with my teammates, the ones who are always there, is a really beautiful moment,” Inter Miami star Messi said. “I’m happy.”

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He added: “It’s an honour to be there, given what it means to stand alongside Klose or the others.

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“Ronaldo is there too, but I don’t think it means anything — Mbappe as well, who scored two today (in a 3-1 win against Senegal).

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“In the end, it’s just a statistic and nothing more.”

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Messi’s razor-sharp eye for goal augurs well for Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cup titles.

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“The squad, it’s a very united, very strong group,” he said.

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“I feel good. We were lucky enough to win a tough match. It’s important to start off with a win in the first game.

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“I’m grateful to the fans, because once again they’ve shown that Argentina is crazy about this — we packed the stadium again.”

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Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said he no longer had “the words to describe Messi.”

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“For 20 years, he’s had us used to seeing things like this, and he inspires everyone who watches him play,” he said of Messi’s masterclass.

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Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister said Messi was still the heartbeat of the team despite his veteran status.

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“If anyone thought this group was better off without Leo, today it became clear that Leo is the most important of them all,” he said.

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Rodrigo De Paul, who supplied the pass for the first goal, described the former Barcelona star as “a beast”.

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