Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick on Tuesday night, leading Argentina to a 3-0 win over Algeria.
The 38-year-old drew level with Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals.
What happened?
Xavi, who spent 11 years alongside Messi at Barcelona, compared him to Michael Jordan.
Lionel Messi's performance left Xavi reaching for basketball's greatest player to describe what he had just watched.
He scored three goals and led Argentina in shots with six.
Why it matters for Lionel Messi
Xavi explained where he now places his former teammate in the sport's history, calling him the Michael Jordan of football.
Lionel Messi's mentality is extraordinary, with a perfect temperament for football and physique.
He can't stand losing and has the perfect drive and ambition for the game.
What comes next?
Lionel Messi will get a chance to break the all-time World Cup scoring record outright when Argentina faces Austria on June 22.
He needs just one goal to move past Klose, with his career World Cup goal contributions already at 24.
Lionel Messi's legacy as an all-time great in sports would be greater if Argentina wins its fourth FIFA World Cup.
And his impact exceeds the sport, with Xavi placing him alongside a generational great like MJ.
Lionel Messi's hat-trick pushed his career World Cup goal contributions to 24, moving him past Pele's previous record of 21.
His 16 tournament goals now match Klose across four different World Cups dating back to his debut in 2006.