Xavi Hernandez Calls Lionel Messi ‘The Michael Jordan of Football’ After Hat-Trick vs Algeria at 2026 World Cup

Lionel Messi’s hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has drawn fresh acclaim from one of football’s most respected voices, with former Barcelona captain and manager Xavi Hernandez placing the Argentine in a category entirely his own.

Speaking to The Athletic, Xavi drew a comparison that transcended football to illustrate Messi’s standing in sport. “I like to say that he is the Michael Jordan of football. In football, there is no one to compare to him. He has surpassed the greats of the past because of his longevity: he’s been the best for the last 20 years,” Xavi said.

The 46-year-old, who shared a dressing room with Messi at Barcelona for several years and later managed the club, pointed to the forward’s mentality as the quality that elevates him above all others. “His mentality is extraordinary. For me, that’s what sets him apart. He can’t stand losing. He’s got the perfect temperament for football and the perfect physique: his body is tailor-made for the game,” Xavi explained.

Xavi was unequivocal in his assessment of Messi’s competitive drive, adding: “He has a champion’s mentality that will never be matched.”

The performance against Algeria clearly left a deep impression on Xavi, who revealed he reached out to Messi directly after the match. “I messaged Leo after the Algeria game. I told him that he was a joke, that I could only laugh when I saw what he had done. It was crazy, crazy stuff. But that’s Leo. He always turns up at just the right moment. For me, he’s incomparable. Incomparable. Almost inhuman,” he said.

Messi’s hat-trick against Algeria was his latest landmark moment on the international stage. The 2026 World Cup represents another opportunity for the Argentine, who lifted the trophy at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar — a victory widely regarded as the crowning achievement of his career. That triumph ended Argentina’s 36-year wait for a third world title and was accompanied by Messi’s Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player.

Now 38, Messi continues to perform at the highest level on football’s biggest stage, his longevity defying conventional expectations for an outfield player at that age. His hat-trick against Algeria is his latest contribution at a World Cup where Argentina entered as defending champions.

Xavi’s comments arrive amid ongoing discussions surrounding the 2026 Golden Ball standings, with Messi’s Algeria performance having significant implications for the individual award race. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is the first edition to feature 48 nations, expanding the tournament’s scope and competitive landscape.

For Xavi, a midfielder who won eight La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League trophies alongside Messi at Barcelona, the Argentine’s consistency across two decades of elite football remains the defining measure of his greatness — a standard he believes no player in the history of the game has matched.