Frenkie de Jong Names Lionel Messi ‘The Perfect Footballer’ After Argentina Star’s Hat-Trick at 2026 World Cup

Netherlands international Frenkie de Jong has described Lionel Messi as “simply the perfect footballer”, reaffirming his long-standing admiration for the Argentine icon following a breathtaking World Cup opener that sent shockwaves through the global football community.

Messi announced his presence at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in emphatic fashion, netting a hat-trick as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in their opening group stage fixture. The treble also saw the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner equal the all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals, previously held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose — a benchmark that had stood since the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS, De Jong reflected on what continues to drive his love for football despite the pressures of professional competition. “It’s still my hobby, even though it’s my job,” the Barcelona midfielder said. “I enjoy playing so much and can completely immerse myself in it. Of course, there’s a lot more at stake compared to just playing with your friends in a playground. But the feeling once you start playing is still almost the same.”

The conversation with NOS also drew out De Jong’s personal connection to Messi, rooted in years of watching the legendary Barcelona sides coached by Pep Guardiola. For the Dutch midfielder, eventually sharing a dressing room with the player he idolised as a youngster carried significant weight. “For me, Messi is simply the perfect footballer,” De Jong stated. “I’ve always watched him more than anyone else. I was always watching a lot of Barcelona matches under Guardiola’s leadership. I think that’s the football I enjoyed more than any other.”

De Jong added: “There were some players from that time whom I followed and looked up to as a fan, and whom I later got to play alongside. So for me, this is really something special.”

De Jong himself is competing at the 2026 World Cup with the Netherlands, who are among the contenders in a tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The 29-year-old has been a key figure for Barcelona since joining the club from Ajax in 2019 for a reported fee of €86 million, and he briefly overlapped with Messi at Camp Nou before the Argentine’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

Messi’s performance against Algeria echoed his heroics at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he led Argentina to their third world title, finishing as the tournament’s best player with seven goals and three assists across seven matches. Now 38 years old and playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, Messi has continued to defy expectations, and his hat-trick in the 2026 edition has reignited debate about his place in football history.

De Jong’s comments arrive alongside similar sentiments from former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez, who has also publicly praised Messi’s display at the tournament. Argentina will look to build on their opening win as the group stage progresses, while the Netherlands continue their own campaign with De Jong central to their midfield setup.