Rafael Nadal’s message to Lionel Messi after the “We are the same” hat-trick that went viral, World Cup 2026

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The world did not have to wait long to witness Lionel MessiMessi’s magic at the 2026 World Cup. During Argentina’s opening match against Algeria, Messi scored three goals to equal Germany’s national team record. Miroslav Klose (16) For the highest number of goals in the marquee event. Messi scored the first goal in the opening minutes after a brilliant pass from Inter Miami team-mate Rodrigo De Paul, the second from an opportunistic rebound early in the second half, and the third in moments with a powerful volley before exiting to a standing ovation from a crowd of 69,045 leaning heavily towards the three-time World Cup champions.

Messi said after the match: “I love playing football. It has been my passion since I was young, and when I am healthy, I give everything.”

“We are currently watching Rafa Nadal series, and I can really identify with him. I think we’re very similar in that sense. I always want to give everything, I always want to feel good, and that’s the way I enjoy it. As long as I’m well enough, I’ll be there.”

And now Nadal has commented on the praise: “Thank you @leomessi: congratulations on your start at the World Cup.”

His stunning hat-trick came 20 years to the day when Messi made his World Cup debut in a match against Serbia and Montenegro – scoring in that match too – and made Rosario proud only the second player to score in five editions of the men’s tournament.

Messi has scored 16 goals in his record six World Cup appearances overall, and it seems inevitable that Klose’s record will drop in the coming weeks. This was the 61st hat-trick in Messi’s career, his eleventh while playing for his national team, and his first in a World Cup.

It was also the fifth consecutive World Cup match in which Messi scored.

“I am very happy to live everything that I have been through on my way,” Messi said. “What I am experiencing now is the cherry on top.” “I am very happy and grateful for this wonderful group. I enjoy it very much.”

Messi had a minor hamstring injury with Inter Miami, which slowed down his career in the lead-up to the World Cup. But the eight-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, which honors the best player in world football, was in no trouble in last week’s match against Iceland, scoring from the penalty spot while playing 20 minutes in a solid performance.

“This is my sixth participation in the World Cup, and I still feel good,” Messi said. “Fortunately, I’m in good shape, and today we managed to win a tough match. It’s important that we start the tournament with a win in the first match, because that’s not easy in a World Cup.”

Messi’s match against Algeria was the 200th match in his international career, which began in 2005 when he was eighteen years old. The only two players who participated in a larger number are Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, who will play his 229th match on Wednesday, and Badr Al-Mutawa, who played 202nd matches with the Kuwaiti national team.

With AP input