Several sporting icons were left in awe of Lionel Messi following his sensational display for Argentina against Algeria at the World Cup, a match in which he shattered multiple records.

As Messi took to the pitch against Algeria, the Argentine captain became the first player in history to appear in six different World Cups. Already his nation’s all-time top scorer and appearance leader, he also reached the milestone of 200 appearances for Argentina.

By full-time, the 39-year-old had added even more achievements to his list. He now shares the record for the most goals ever scored in World Cup history with 16, claimed his first World Cup hat-trick, and set a new benchmark as the oldest player to net a hat-trick in the tournament’s history.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni urged fans to cherish Messi’s brilliance, saying, “We have to enjoy him.” Teammate Rodrigo De Paul added, “Having Leo is an advantage because of how he leads the group and pushes us forward. He doesn’t focus on personal records; for him, it’s always about the team, and that’s incredible for us.”

Five football greats echoed that admiration as they shared their reactions to Messi’s record-breaking performance.

Erling Haaland

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, fresh off scoring a brace in his own World Cup debut, expressed his amazement by posting, “Messi is a madman.” The young star was quick to applaud the Argentine legend for an achievement even greater than his own.

Thomas Müller

Germany’s 2014 World Cup champion Thomas Müller kept his message short and impactful, posting “This guy…🐐”. He paired the caption with a throwback photo of himself and Messi facing off during an MLS match.

Rio Ferdinand

Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand couldn’t hide his astonishment, writing, “Wow Messi!!! His first ever hat-trick at a World Cup… and now officially ties the record for the most ever World Cup goals! #FIFAWorldCup #Messi.”

Alan Shearer

Former England striker Alan Shearer, serving as a pundit during the tournament, shared his admiration too, posting, “OMG. MESSI 16th goal in the World Cup. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 #ARGALG.”

Carli Lloyd

Two-time World Cup winner Carli Lloyd of the United States offered a thoughtful assessment of Messi’s current mindset and form, commenting, “Messi is playing with complete freedom. He’s already achieved the ultimate goal by winning the World Cup, and that makes him even more dangerous this time. There’s no pressure or expectation — just pure football. Enjoy every moment while we still can. There’s simply no one else like him. 🐐”

Messi’s extraordinary performance once again demonstrated why he remains one of the greatest footballers in history, continuing to inspire admiration from legends across generations.