What happened: Thomas Müller took to Instagram to acknowledge Lionel Messi after the Argentine captain's historic hat-trick against Algeria in the 2026 World Cup opener. Messi's three goals at Arrowhead Stadium moved him to 16 career World Cup goals, tying the all-time record previously held by German striker Miroslav Klose.

Why it matters: The tribute from Müller, a former teammate of Klose, highlights the weight of Messi matching the record in his sixth tournament. Müller's public praise comes after he previously questioned if the 38-year-old could maintain elite form on the world stage, marking a notable shift in his assessment of the player's longevity.

What to watch: Argentina continues Group A play as Messi looks to claim the scoring record outright in his next appearance. Müller and the global football community will be watching to see if the captain can reach 17 goals.