World Cup: People need to stop pretending about Lionel Messi – Ronaldo Nazario

Lionel Messi solidified his status in football history during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he equaled the all-time tournament scoring record. In Argentina’s opening Group J match against Algeria on June 16, 2026, the 38-year-old captain scored a hat-trick to reach 16 career World Cup goals, drawing level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose.  

This milestone performance was particularly significant as it occurred during Messi’s 200th international appearance for Argentina and exactly 20 years after his World Cup debut in 2006. With this hat-trick, he became the oldest player to score three goals in a single World Cup match and the first male player to feature in six different editions of the tournament.  

Following the match, Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário—who held the tournament scoring record of 15 goals before being surpassed by Klose and now Messi—spoke out about the achievement. He urged the football community to stop debating Messi’s greatness, stating, “It’s time for the world to stop hiding and accept the fact that he is the best player of all time. He continues to deliver every season and in the World Cup and, yet, there are still doubts about him. It is an unforgettable and historic night that will remain forever in the history books.”

Messi now sits at the top of the men’s World Cup goalscoring list with 16 goals, alongside Klose, and ahead of Ronaldo (15), Kylian Mbappé (14), and Gerd Müller (14). He will have the opportunity to claim the record outright in Argentina’s next group-stage match against Austria on June 22, 2026