Lionel Messi reveals Rafael Nadal inspiration after World Cup hat-trick heroics for Argentina - 'We're very similar'

The 38-year-old starred in the 3-0 victory in Kansas City on Tuesday night as he equalled Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals, while becoming the first player to feature at the tournament for a sixth time. 

After spearheading Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, there were doubts over whether Messi would have the same impact at this tournament, given his age and three-year stint in Major League Soccer, away from Europe’s elite. 

Nadal’s recently released documentary, Rafa, shows him facing similar questions and battling physical issues towards the end of his illustrious career, and Messi has resonated with the Spaniard, just two years his senior, while watching the show. 

"I love playing football. It's been my passion since I was little. When I'm feeling good, I give my all,” the Argentine said after his player-of-the-match display. 

”We're watching Rafa Nadal's series right now, and I identify with him a lot. We're very similar in that I want to give my best and feel good. I enjoy it that way. As long as I can, and I'm fit to do it, I'll be there."

Messi and Nadal were at the top of their respective sports for similar periods, with Messi’s Barcelona debut coming in 2004, just three years after Nadal turned professional. 

The first of Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam wins - the first of his 14 French Open victories - came in 2005, a year before Messi’s first appearance and goal at the World Cup. 

Nadal’s most successful season in terms of majors was in 2010, when he won three Grand Slam titles, which were sandwiched between two of Messi’s three UEFA Champions League triumphs, in 2009 and 2011. 

The tennis legend called time on his career in 2024, a year after Messi’s 19-year period in European club football came to an end. 

Messi’s three goals on Tuesday took him above Gerd Muller (14) and Ronaldo (15) in the list of all-time top scorers at the World Cup, while he also went back above Kylian Mbappe (14) following the Frenchman’s brace against Senegal earlier in the day. 

While Argentina’s No. 10 said it was an ”honour” to be among those names, he was placing little importance on the individual record. 

”It's an honour to be there because of what it means to be there next to Klose, Ronaldo is there too, but I don't think it means anything,” Messi said. 

”Mbappe is there; he scored two today. It's a statistic and nothing more. While it's an honour to be able to compete with all of them, it doesn't mean anything to me.

”Ronaldo, from what I saw, was one of the greatest, and he's not in first place, so it all comes down to a statistic.”

It was the perfect start to their title defence for Argentina, before group games against Austria and Jordan.

They were particularly aware of complacency in their first outing after losing to Saudi Arabia in their opening game in Qatar four years ago. 

”The first matches of an official competition, especially a World Cup, are always difficult,” Messi explained. 

”We had the experience of the last one, and it's clear in this World Cup that nobody gives anything away. It's a very competitive World Cup where all the teams are strong, they have their own playing style, they're well-coached, and all the matches are going to be very close and intense. 

”Physically, there are many strong teams that play well, and they study us. It's all very even."

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