🚨 Arsene Wenger on Lionel Messi's hat-trick and becoming the World Cup's all time leading goalscorer: 🗣“What we witnessed today goes beyond another record. It is the continuation of a career that has consistently redefined the standards of excellence in football. It wasn't simply a hat-trick,it was the quality of the goals, the intelligence behind every decision, and the efficiency with which Messi influenced the game. Those are the qualities that separate truly exceptional players from the rest. For many years people have tried to compare Messi with other great footballers, but there comes a point where comparisons lose their meaning. He has built a legacy that stands on its own. What fascinates me most is his evolution. I genuinely don't know whether the young Messi, with his explosive pace and dribbling, was better than the experienced Messi we see today, who controls every moment of the game with his intelligence and understanding. Very few players improve with age the way he has. The emotion after his second goal revealed another side of his greatness. It reminded everyone of the difficult journey he has had with Argentina,the disappointments, the criticism, and the perseverance that eventually led to glory. That emotional connection with his country continues to drive him. To score his first World Cup hat trick while becoming the tournament's all time leading goalscorer is an extraordinary achievement. It is another milestone in a career that already seemed impossible to improve. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect is his longevity. He finished the 2022 World Cup by lifting the trophy after scoring twice in the final, and he has opened the 2026 tournament with a hattrick. At almost 39 years of age, he continues to perform with the same clarity, technical quality, and love for the game that defined him in his twenties. That is the mark of a truly timeless footballer.”