It was a day filled with football's elite, yet Lionel Messi stole the spotlight once again. Following impressive performances from Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, who both netted two goals, the stage was set for Messi's brilliance.

In a historic showing, Messi secured his first World Cup hat-trick and a record-equalling 16th World Cup goal. At 38 years old, he became the first player to participate in six World Cups, surpassing rival Cristiano Ronaldo by just a day.

Reflecting on his journey, Messi noted, "To enjoy this with my family, with my team-mates... is a really beautiful moment. I'm grateful to the fans... they packed the stadium again."

The game began dramatically, as Messi nearly scored just four minutes in, only to have the goal ruled offside. However, it was only a matter of time before he showcased his talent.

• 18th minute: Messi curled a powerful shot from 25 yards into the net, marking his 14th World Cup goal.
• After 60 minutes, he capitalized on a mistake from Luca Zidane, netting again and moving within one goal of becoming the joint-top scorer in World Cup history.

Messi's performance exemplified his enduring skill and fitness. Since turning 35, he has scored 10 World Cup goals, surpassing legends like Harry Kane, Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Thierry Henry combined. As Leon Osman remarked, Messi continues to defy age, celebrating as if it were his first World Cup goal, proving that he remains a formidable presence on the pitch.