ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Scoring goals and breaking records is Lionel Messi’s job, and he’s already done it again in his sixth game. world cup.
The Argentina captain put in another outstanding performance and became the World Cup’s leading scorer. The performance started with frustration after missing a penalty kick, but ended with pure elation as they won again.
Messi, considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, scored both goals in two games. His team won 2-0 against Austria. on monday. As a result, he turned 18 years old, but 6 days later, First ever hat trick His goal in this tournament equaled German striker Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16 goals in a World Cup.
Messi said, “More than anything, I’m very happy to win.” “It’s been big, it’s been tough, it’s been difficult. It’s going to make me feel more relaxed about what’s to come. All the games in this World Cup are very even and very intense. I’m enjoying this moment and I’m really looking forward to enjoying it with my teammates.”
His first goal against Austria came in the 38th minute, two days before his 39th birthday. sick father Go back home. It was 6 times in a row world cup Messi scored in this match, second only to French striker Juste Fontaine and Brazilian great Jairzinho as the top scorers.
That came about 30 minutes after he missed a penalty kick with a record-tying chance.
Messi, who won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards as Europe’s best player, said: “There were moments when I missed a penalty and was really angry, but I was able to recover from it.”
Argentina won the first two games of the group stage and advanced to the final tournament. Messi also scored all of his team’s goals in this match. 3-0 victory over Algeria in Kansas City.
Messi added his 18th World Cup goal with just seconds left in stoppage time, firing through several defenders after his first shot was deflected by goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
“I knew it wouldn’t be easy,” Messi said in translated comments. “If you look at the way things go in the World Cup, the way the games are played, it’s a very even game. Nobody gives anything away.”
This goal record came in the first half when Thiago Almada took a pass from Facno Medina and ran it directly into Messi’s left foot from about 20 yards, catching Schlager who was leaning in the opposite direction, leaving Messi alone.
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni said through an interpreter, “I have no more words to say about Leo.”
When the ball went into the net for his record 17th goal, Messi raced toward the corner, threw his right arm in the air and celebrated with a decidedly pro-Argentine crowd among the 70,649 fans at the packed home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
“If you’re a 39-year-old player who can score two goals at the start of the World Cup, five goals in total, that makes a difference,” Austria coach Ralf Rangnick said through an interpreter. “I knew he was at the same level as me, but Lionel Messi showed us today that he is one of the best players, the best.”
The same fans gasped when Messi missed a penalty in the 9th minute.
The shot he took with his left foot just missed the right post. He has missed four out of seven penalty kicks in regulation play at the World Cup, making it the third straight tournament he has missed.
Klose played in 24 World Cup matches for Germany, finishing his fourth World Cup in 2014 by defeating Messi and Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the final.
Klose said in an interview published on June 12 that he expects Messi to break his goalscoring record.
Klose told German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung: “The size of the competing teams has increased, so there are more games and more chances to score goals. And Argentina and France will go far.” “That’s perfectly fine. The record will be broken anyway and I’m happy for Messi to achieve it. I’m a big fan of Messi and always have been. Messi is a genius.”
Messi’s hat-trick in his 200th international match was his first in 20 years since he scored on his debut at the World Cup in Germany. Monday was his FIFA record 28th match in the tournament.
The penalty came after Lautaro Martínez ran free in the box and was tackled from behind by Kusava Schlager and defender Stefan Posch, who was playing with a broken jaw.
Play continued for over a minute with Martinez still on the ground near the goal. When the game was stopped for him, officials reviewed the play and called a penalty.
Messi’s father is being treated for an undisclosed illness, his family said in a statement last week, without providing specific details. Jorge Messi, 68, has played a key role in his son’s football career, acting as his agent and managing his off-field business.
Lionel Messi appeared overcome with emotion after scoring his first goal against Algeria, saying after the match that he was brought to tears after a difficult day that had nothing to do with football.
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AP Sports Writer James Ellingworth in Dusseldorf, Germany, contributed to this report.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
