Messi became the oldest player to score more than once in a World Cup match, taking that mark from Cameroon's Roger Milla. At 38 years and 357 days, he also became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo, who was 33 years and 130 days old when he scored all three of Portugal's goals in a 3-3 draw with Spain at Russia 2018. The hat-trick was Messi's 27th appearance across six World Cup editions.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni praised Messi after the match.
I don't have the words to describe Messi. For 20 years, he's had us used to seeing things like this, and he inspires everyone who watches him play.
Midfielder Enzo Fernandez kept the reaction blunt.
The GOAT is on fire.
Rodrigo De Paul, Messi's teammate for Inter Miami and Argentina, called him an animal and said Messi appears happier and less burdened than in past tournaments.
What makes me happiest is that he's enjoying it, he's not carrying this weight he carried for so long. Everybody knows his mentality, he only lets himself enjoy it a little bit because he's focused on helping us, the team, but I think he's good, he's happy and I think that's contagious in the group.
Earlier Tuesday, France striker Kylian Mbappe scored twice in a 3-1 win over Senegal, moving to 14 goals in 15 World Cup matches, two behind all-time leading scorer Miroslav Klose. Erling Haaland also scored twice on his major international tournament debut in Norway's 4-1 win over Iraq. Messi's hat-trick later pulled him level with Klose on the all-time World Cup scoring chart.
Haaland responded to Argentina's result on social media with a crown emoji and the caption, Messi is a madman. Thomas Muller, who scored 10 goals in 19 World Cup matches for Germany, posted an Instagram picture from an MLS match against Messi and also labelled him the GOAT.
Former Argentina internationals Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero bowed during commentary duties after Messi's display. He is currently on five consecutive World Cup matches with a goal, including the four knockout games Argentina at Qatar 2022, and could become only the third player after Just Fontaine in 1958 and Jairzinho in 1970 to score in six straight World Cup games.
De Paul said Messi rarely tracks the records teammates mention to him.
I swear to you, he doesn't know, he doesn't care (about breaking records). Sometimes we're there in the room drinking mate and we'll say to him: 'Hey shorty, you're one or two goals away from a record.' He has no idea. I don't know how that happens, but we tell him all the time and he doesn't think about any of that. Sometimes we prod Leo to see if he can break records, and he ends up doing it. He's incredible.
The match was Algeria's first World Cup appearance since 2014.
