KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Lionel Messi became the second player to score in five World Cups, giving defending champion Argentina an early 1-0 lead over Algeria on Tuesday night. Making his record sixth appearance in the tournament, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner found a crease in the Algerian defense and easily beat goalkeeper Luca Zidane for his 14th World Cup goal, sending a blue-and-white-clad crowd packed inside Arrowhead Stadium into delirium. Moments earlier, Messi had a goal disallowed for offsides. Messi joins Cristiano Ronaldo
of Portugal as the only players with goals in five World Cups. Ronaldo became the first in 2022 and is set to play in his sixth World Cup on Wednesday. Miroslav Klose of Germany holds the record for World Cup goals with 16, one ahead of Brazil great Ronaldo. Messi’s latest highlight pulled him into a tie for third on the career list with Kylian Mbappé — who scored two goals in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal earlier Tuesday — and Gerd Muller of West
Germany. The goal came 20 years to the day that Messi made his World Cup debut for Argentina in a match against Serbia and Montenegro. Messi, who turns 39 next week, had been dealing with a minor hamstring injury with Inter Miami had slowed him in the lead-up to the World Cup. But he had no problems in a tuneup last week with Iceland, scoring on a penalty kick while playing 20 minutes. Messi’s appearance against Algeria was the 200th of his international career, which
began in 2005 at the age of 18. The only players with more are Portugal’s Ronaldo, who will play in his 229th on Wednesday against Congo, and Bader al-Mutawa, who played in his 202nd match for Kuwait in 2002. Messi-mania has swept through Kansas City ever since Argentina’s arrival. On match day, thousands of fans wearing his No. 10 jersey trekked into the home of the NFL’s Chiefs on the outskirts of Kansas City. Meanwhile, at a watch party at the downtown Power & Light
District, a real-life goat accompanied by former NFL quarterback-turned Fox broadcaster Jameis Winston came on stage wearing the same blue-and-white Argentina jersey. The argument that Messi is soccer’s GOAT — greatest of all time — is becoming no argument at all with every World Cup goal. AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
Lionel Messi, Argentina, Algeria, World Cup, Arrowhead Stadium, Luca Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Gerd Muller, Miroslav Klose, 14th World Cup goal
Messi still got it sheesh.
So they disallowed his goal and then he scores anyway? That seems like the refs can’t make up their mind. Also why is a goat in a stadium thing lol.
I don’t get the offside part… like if he was clearly through then how is it offsides, y’all. And 14th World Cup goal?? My brain can’t even count that high. Next thing you know they’ll say he’s better than Ronaldo because numbers or whatever.
This is why soccer is wild. One minute it’s called back, next minute he’s breaking records. Also Luca Zidane sounds like some random goalie name and not even related to soccer royalty?? I saw on TV it said Messi turns 39 next week like time is fake. Arrowhead Stadium too—Chiefs fans are gonna be insufferable now.