Lionel Messi said he is simply enjoying every moment of his remarkable career after scoring a hat-trick to lead Argentina to a 3-0 win in their World Cup opener on Tuesday (June 16), brushing aside talk of records.

“Everything I’m experiencing right now is amazing,” Messi told reporters while holding his player of the match award. “I was lucky enough to achieve all my dreams… Today I’m enjoying all of this… honestly, everything I’ve experienced is far more than I could have ever imagined when I was a kid.”

Argentina had to work for the victory despite the comfortable scoreline, with Messi acknowledging a difficult start against an energetic opponent.

“We did know it was going to be a tough game because we knew they have very good players,” he said. “I think we defended well when we didn’t have the ball… the first matches of any official competition, especially the World Cup, are always difficult.”

The captain said the side improved after the break in what he described as an increasingly competitive tournament.

“We’re seeing in this World Cup that nobody gives anything away… every match is going to be very, very close and intense,” he said.

Messi, who drew level with the all-time World Cup scoring record with his hat-trick, downplayed the significance of the milestone.

“It’s obviously an honor to be there… but I don’t think it means anything… in the end, it’s just a statistic,” he said.

Instead, the 38-year-old said his focus remains on enjoying the game that has defined his career.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Messi hat-trick leads Argentina past Algeria, says success 'beyond anything I imagined'

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES BY ARGENTINA NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM FORWARD LIONEL MESSI

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, UNITED STATES (JUNE 16, 2026) (FIFA - See restrictions before use)

1. ARGENTINA FORWARD LIONEL MESSI GREETING JOURNALIST, LISTENING TO QUESTION WHILE HOLDING FIFA PLAYER OF THE MATCH AWARD

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA FORWARD, LIONEL MESSI, SAYING:

“Like I say, everything I’m experiencing right now is amazing. I was lucky enough to achieve all my dreams, or even more than I could have hoped for, both individually and as part of a team. Today I’m enjoying all of this, having a wonderful team, feeling good, and being lucky enough to enjoy it on the field just the way I’ve always liked. Honestly, everything I’ve experienced is far more than I could have ever imagined when I was a kid.”

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA FORWARD, LIONEL MESSI, SAYING:

“We did know it was going to be a tough game because we knew they have very good players, they’re dynamic and intense, and that if we let them have the ball, they could create chances against us. But I think we defended well when we didn’t have the ball. We were lucky to take the lead and control the game, though perhaps not the way we usually do through possession, because we struggled a bit in the first half. But anyway, things changed in the second half, that’s normal. The first matches of any official competition, especially the World Cup, are always difficult. We also had the experience from the last one, and we’re seeing in this World Cup that nobody gives anything away, it’s a very competitive World Cup, where all the teams are strong, have their own game plan, are all well-prepared, and every match is going to be very, very close and intense. Physically, there are many strong teams, and they play well, they study us. The truth is, it’s all very even.”

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA FORWARD, LIONEL MESSI, SAYING:

“I like playing soccer. It’s been my passion since I was a kid, and when I’m feeling good, I give it my all. We’re watching the Rafa Nadal series right now, and I really relate to him. I think we’re very similar in that sense, I always want to give it my all, I always want to feel good, and that’s how I enjoy it. And well, as long as I can and am able to do it, we’ll be there.”

8. WHITE FLASH

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA FORWARD, LIONEL MESSI, IN EXCHANGE WITH OFF-CAMERA JOURNALIST, SAYING:

JOURNALIST: “You’re the all-time leading scorer in the World Cup alongside Klose. Do you keep track of that number?”

MESSI: “No, honestly not. It’s obviously an honor to be there—to be alongside Klose and the others who came before. Ronaldo is there, too. But I don’t think it means anything—Mbappé scored two today, and he’s up there, too. In the end, it’s just a statistic and nothing more. While I’m proud to be able to compete with all of them, it doesn’t mean anything to me. From what I’ve seen, Ronaldo was one of the greatest, and he’s not in first place. So it’s just a statistic.” / MESSI WALKING AWAY