‘A beautiful moment’: Messi bags hat-trick to equal all-time World Cup goals record

Lionel Messi saluted a “beautiful moment” after becoming the World Cup’s joint all-time leading goalscorer in his record-breaking sixth finals appearance on Tuesday.

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

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

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

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.

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

“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.

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

Lionel Messi is now the joint top #FIFAWorldCup goalscorer