Lionel Messi’s latest World Cup masterpiece has earned comparisons to some of the biggest achievements ever witnessed in Kansas City sports.
While discussing Argentina’s 2026 World Cup opener against Algeria on “The Rich Eisen Show,” Rich Eisen suggested Lionel Messi’s record-breaking display deserves to be viewed alongside the landmark achievements of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce at Arrowhead Stadium.
Rich Eisen Compares Lionel Messi to Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce
“In Arrowhead, we’re obviously rightfully talking about what Mahomes does there and Kelce does there and what they’ve done in a dynastic run for the Chiefs,” Eisen said.
“But Messi World Cup hat-trick, first of his career to tie him for the most goals scored in the history of the tournament in that stadium. It’s up. It’s up there, man. And it’s pretty great. That’s great.”
Messi delivered a performance worthy of that praise on Tuesday night, leading Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in Group J play.
The Argentine captain opened the scoring in the 17th minute after collecting a perfectly weighted pass from Rodrigo De Paul before firing a long-range strike into the top corner.
He doubled the lead shortly after halftime when he pounced on a goalkeeping error, then completed his hat trick in the 76th minute with another powerful finish.
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It was a historic night on several fronts.
The 38-year-old became the oldest player ever to score a hat trick at a men’s World Cup. He also drew level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose on 16 career World Cup goals, matching the tournament’s all-time scoring record.
The milestone came exactly 20 years after Messi scored his first World Cup goal, adding another layer to an already memorable evening.
The match itself was significant even before kickoff. Messi was making his 200th appearance for Argentina and became the first player to compete in six World Cups.
Among those watching from the stands was Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who later reacted on X with three GOAT emojis following Messi’s performance.
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The moment carried extra significance because it unfolded in Mahomes’ own backyard. Arrowhead Stadium has become synonymous with Mahomes, Kelce, and the Chiefs’ championship era, but for one night, the spotlight belonged entirely to Messi.
The two superstars also share a connection away from the field. Both are Adidas athletes and have appeared together in multiple advertising campaigns.
Last year, Mahomes teamed up with Messi for an Adidas commercial and spoke highly of the soccer icon.
“In sports, as in anything that you are passionate about, the work never stops,” Mahomes said at the time.
“But nobody succeeds alone. You need people who believe in you and who challenge you to be better. It was an honor to team up with Leo for this campaign. It’s a reminder that we achieve more together than we ever could alone.”
After Tuesday’s display, Eisen made it clear that Messi’s latest achievement deserves a place beside some of the greatest moments ever seen at Arrowhead.
