Gifted myself for the anniversary
©IMAGO
Lionel Messi shook his head as if he couldn’t believe the perfect start to his sixth World Cup. Hat-trick against Algeria, a confident 3-0 opening win and now tied with Miroslav Klose as the World Cup record goalscorer with a total of 16 goals – Messi delivered an incomparable show in Kansas City.
“There are no words left to describe it. If anyone thought this team was better without Leo, then today it became clear that he is the most important of all and we have to create a team in which he feels comfortable because he is the most important of all,” said Messi’s teammate Alexis Mac Allister. Facundo Medina said: “Messi does everything just like that, we see it in training and it’s crazy.”
Coach Lionel Scaloni was a bit sentimental with his comment: “You have to enjoy it because we will miss him when he is no longer on the pitch.” 78 minutes of the Messi show are enough for the record
The 2022 Qatar champion won his first game in Kansas City against Algeria 3-0 (1-0) thanks to three goals from his exceptional footballer and, unlike four years ago, started the tournament with a win. At that time, Argentina had lost against Saudi Arabia before Messi and Co. took off to the celebrated World Cup triumph.
Messi played magic for 78 minutes in his 200th international match for the Albiceleste. That was enough to equal Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record of 16 goals. Kylian Mbappé also has the chance to catch up with Klose at this tournament. The Frenchman scored twice in the 3-1 win against Senegal and now has 14 World Cup goals to his name.
When he was substituted, Messi was celebrated by the more than 40,000 Argentine fans among the 69,045 spectators at the Kansas City Chiefs football stadium as if he had already led Argentina to their longed-for title defense. Even at the age of 38, Messi was once again the linchpin of the South Americans’ game and was immediately the center of attention. In the fifth minute he caused the Argentine fans to go crazy for the first time. However, the superstar was just offside when he scored.
Messi’s 14th World Cup goal – and there was more to come
But twelve minutes later the time had come. With his 14th goal at a World Cup, Messi gave the defending champions the lead in front of Kansas’ football star Patrick Mahomes. Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane didn’t look entirely happy with Messi’s goal. The son of former superstar Zinédine Zidane still got his hands on the ball, but couldn’t prevent the team from taking the lead. Deafening cheers rang out as the ball fidgeted in the net and Messi let his teammates celebrate.
Messi made his World Cup debut exactly 20 years to the day before the first game at his sixth World Cup: in 2006, the 6-0 win in Gelsenkirchen against Serbia-Montenegro was Messi’s first appearance on the World Cup stage. At the age of 18, he scored a goal straight away. Messi was the first player to appear in six World Cups.
Messi repeatedly showed his skills against the Algerians, who also scored an offside goal through Farès Chaïbi in the eighth minute. After the break, he was there with a shot after Zidane let a shot from Mac Allister ricochet forward (60th). Fifteen minutes before the end he scored for the third time and drew level with 2014 world champion Klose, to whom he had lost in the final.
Messi is one of 17 Qatari world champions who are also in Argentina’s World Cup squad in the USA. The big goal is clear: defending the title. So far in World Cup history, only the Italians in 1934 and 1938, who did not qualify again this time, and Brazil with the legendary Pelé in 1958 and 1962 have achieved this. With the historic evening in Kansas City, Messi and Co. laid the foundation for the next big coup.
“Player for big games”: Haaland makes Norway dream
Double goalscorer Erling Haaland has the whole of Norway dreaming of a football fairytale when they return to the World Cup after 28 years. “Everyone knows that this is great, everyone knows that it’s a big moment for me and a big stage. It’s fun, but it’s a lot of pressure, so let’s move on now,” announced Haaland after his successful World Cup debut and at the same time sent a declaration of war to the upcoming opponents from Senegal and France.
The 4-1 win against outsiders Iraq was lackluster for long stretches and revealed major weaknesses, especially in defense. The most important finding, however, is that Haaland has lost none of his form from World Cup qualifying and is in top form at the peak of the season. «Today I was seen with the same energy as during the World Cup qualification. I’m proud of us,” said the center forward.
Haaland the world’s best striker? “It’s not me.”
With 16 goals in 8 games, the Manchester City top scorer almost single-handedly took the Scandinavians to the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. No wonder that coach Stale Solbakken praised his protégé as the world’s best striker. A title that Haaland still rejects. “I haven’t scored the most goals this season. Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé have scored more goals. That’s the reality, it’s not me,” the offensive player made clear. The duel with the Frenchman, who also scored twice in the 3-1 win against Senegal, will take place on June 26th.
The player of the match award was secondary for Haaland. The former Bundesliga professional from Borussia Dortmund has bigger goals in mind. “I put some pressure on Haaland before the game. He took it well. He’s a player for big games,” said Solbakken, whose team is considered the secret favorite. It wasn’t just the Norwegian press that was full of praise and, like the newspaper “Verdens Gang”, spoke of a “heroic” performance. Legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic also raved about the US broadcaster “Fox”. “I guess I’ll have to move him higher on my list of ‘Kings of the Jungle’. He’s getting closer and closer to Zlatan.”
Solbakken rewarded his team with two days off. “They can train if they want. But they can also play a round of golf. Some will have visits from their families. We have been planning this for a long time. It will be good to have a break,” said Solbakken.