Rodrigo De Paul has showered praise on Argentina captain Lionel Messi for his exceptional team-first attitude following the forward’s record-equalling hat-trick at the World Cup. Even after matching Miroslav Klose’s all-time tournament scoring record, the veteran star remains entirely focused on collective success rather than personal accolades, reaffirming his unmatched worth to the reigning South American champions.

Record-equalling display for Argentina

Argentina’s strong start to their World Cup campaign has reinforced their status as one of the tournament’s dominant forces. De Paul was quick to commend Messi after the Inter Miami forward netted three goals in Tuesday’s commanding 3-0 win over Algeria.

By scoring his hat-trick, the 38-year-old drew level with Miroslav Klose’s iconic mark of 16 goals in World Cup history. Messi delivered a vintage performance across his 80 minutes on the pitch, completing 57 touches and registering four shots on target.

In addition, he recorded an 81% passing accuracy and created two key chances. Despite these remarkable individual numbers, his teammate insisted that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner remains humble and fully dedicated to the team’s collective goals.

Putting the team above all

While addressing the media, De Paul elaborated on why Messi’s presence is so crucial for the squad as they chase consecutive world titles. After lifting the coveted trophy in Qatar four years ago, Argentina are again looking to their talisman to inspire another historic triumph.

De Paul emphasised the captain’s selfless nature, noting that Messi consistently prioritises team achievements over personal milestones. He said, “It’s a huge advantage to have Leo, because of how he manages the group and leads it, because of who he is. He doesn’t care about individual records; he puts the team first, and for us, that’s something incredible.”

The team’s irreplaceable leader

Messi’s unparalleled influence was echoed by fellow midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who dismissed any suggestion that Argentina could perform better without their legendary number 10.

The Liverpool midfielder made his thoughts crystal clear about Messi’s impact within the squad, stating: “There are no words for Messi! If anyone thought this team was stronger without Leo, it’s now obvious that he’s the most important one.”

With that victory, Argentina currently top Group J on goal difference, having secured three critical points in their opening match to set the tone early in the tournament.

What lies ahead for Messi and Argentina?

Looking ahead, Lionel Scaloni’s side will take on Austria on June 22 in Dallas to determine who takes charge of the group standings, following Austria’s 3-1 win over Jordan. Argentina will then wrap up their group stage against Jordan. If their iconic captain continues this blistering form, retaining their world title remains an achievable goal.

How far can Argentina go in this World Cup?