Lionel Messi declared ‘gift from God’ as superstar equals World Cup record with sensational hat-trick

Death, taxes and Lionel Messi shining on the big stage.

Messi marked his 200th appearance for Argentina with a sensational hat-trick as the defending world champions prevailed 3-0 over Algeria in their World Cup opener.

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It marked the first time Messi has bagged a hat-trick in a World Cup match.

But, more importantly, the pint-sized superstar’s three goals took his tally at World Cups to 16, equalling German icon Miroslav Klose’s all-time record.

The 38-year-old kicked off his memorable night at Arrowhead Stadium in the 17th minute with a powerful strike from distance, although it was a moment Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, the son of French legend Zinedine, may want to forget.

Rodrigo De Paul broke the lines with a vertical pass straight to Messi, who found himself in acres of space between Algeria’s midfield and defence.

It seemed as if Algeria’s defenders were completely mesmerised by the Inter Miami superstar as they refused to close him down.

Unfortunately for the African outfit, their reluctance proved costly as Messi let rip from just outside the box with a left-footed strike.

Zidane got a hand to Messi’s shot but not enough to divert it away, sparking delirium from the Argentina supporters in Kansas City.

Speaking on commentary for talkSPORT, former Chelsea defender Scott Minto waxed lyrical about Messi’s ‘football intelligence’ that has served him so well throughout his career.

Minto: Messi is a ‘gift from God’

“Honestly, 38 years young,” Minto said.

“Okay, he hasn’t quite got the legs of picking up the ball in his own half and going past the whole of the opposition. But he’s so clever.

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“He wasn’t always just about the goals. It’s about this football intelligence. Finding a pocket of space 20, 25, 30 yards out, turning, running with it. He’s on the edge of the box.

“Just on the edge of the D, 20 yards out. He’s whipped it across his body. I mean, the keeper should be saving it, but Lionel Messi. Welcome to the World Cup.”

Minto added Messi is ‘a gift from God’, with the pint-sized attacker alongside fellow Argentinian great Diego Maradona as ‘the two best players this planet has ever seen.’

Messi bagged his second of the evening on the hour mark after Zidane spilled Alexis Mac Allister’s long-range strike.

The Liverpool star unleashed an effort that went straight to the Algerian glovesman.

However, Zidane failed to hold on to the ball as his rebound fell right in the path of Messi, who was quickest to react.

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Messi completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute when, for the second time of the evening, he scored from outside the box.

But unlike his first effort, there was nothing Zidane could do to stop the Argentinian ace’s rocket.

Messi drove towards the Algerian goal before slipping the ball to Nico Gonzalez on his left.

Gonzalez then duly returned the ball back to Messi on the edge of the area, who subsequently let fly with a left-footed strike that beat a diving Zidane.

Messi’s evening in Kansas City came to an end in the 80th minute, with Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni bringing on Nico Paz.

Several voices across the football landscape readily heaped praise on Messi, including Norway’s Erling Haaland who, just hours before, netted twice in his side’s 4-1 win over Iraq.

Posting a selfie on Snapchat, Haaland wrote: “Messi is a madman.”

German legend Thomas Muller echoed a similar sentiment as he shared a picture of himself with Messi on Instagram along with the goat emoji, often used in conjunction with describing someone or something as the greatest of all time.

The 38-year-old’s next chance to surpass Klose’s World Cup goal record comes on June 22 when Argentina takes on Austria in Arlington, Texas.