Messi hails 'beautiful moment' after becoming World Cup's joint leading goalscorer

[p]The 38-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] captain etched another memorable chapter in his glittering career with a brilliant hat-trick in the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/algeria-nc87N1BR/argentina-f9OppQjp/?mid=UP9bEsOr"]South Americans' 3-0 win over Algeria at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium.[/a][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Messi[/a]'s hat-trick - his first ever in the World Cup - vaulted him alongside Germany's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/klose-miroslav/tO31cZrF/"]Miroslav Klose[/a] as the top scorer in the tournament's history with 16 goals.[/p][p][b]"To enjoy this with my family, with my teammates, the ones who are always there, is a really beautiful moment,"[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter-miami/0AheRyBg/"]Inter Miami[/a] star Messi said afterwards. [b]"I'm happy."[/b][/p][p]Messi's razor-sharp eye for goal augurs well for Argentina's hopes of becoming the first team since [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a] in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cup titles.[/p][p][b]"The squad, it's a very united, very strong group," [/b]Messi said.[/p][p][b]"I feel good; we were lucky enough to win a tough match. It's important to start with a win in the first game.[/b][/p][p][b]"I'm grateful to the fans, because once again they've shown that Argentina is crazy about this - we packed the stadium again."[/b][/p][embed guid="621d47e3-1607-4177-95e5-9bf78c0cc603" url="https://x.com/itvfootball/status/2067075884406759817" social-type="twitter" /][p]Argentina coach [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scaloni-lionel/A1A2ibcF/"]Lionel Scaloni[/a] meanwhile said he no longer has "the words to describe Messi."[/p][p]"For 20 years, he's had us used to seeing things like this, and he inspires everyone who watches him play," Scaloni said of Messi's performance.[/p][p]Scaloni is now targeting Argentina's second Group J game against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/austria/naHiWdnt/"]Austria[/a] on Monday as the South Americans look to lock up their place in the knockout rounds.[/p][p][b]"We're going to take it one game at a time. The team is happy; we gave playing time to a lot of players,"[/b] Scaloni said.[/p][p][b]"Hopefully we can win the next one so everyone can be in the third group stage match."[/b][/p][infobox id="223b89ff-ddb8-4772-8cfb-8f89aea85267" /]