If 39 year-old Messi can get a hat-trick what would a 35 year-old Cairney do??

[Nick Bateman]

It was great seeing Messi score a hattrick today at the highest level. What it highlights is players are not "finished" at an earlier age such as Tom Cairney at 35.

If you look after your physical condition you can prolong your footballing career at the top level. I would say Cairney has done this and in his last match showed the quality missing from Fulham this season.

I've seen so many aged players in this tournament show their ability and class; the Cape Verde goalie was 40 years old.

Footballers change over time but they also gain experience in those years and that should never be ignored,

[Coastwalker]

Nick,we all know you like Cairney,I do.But it's time to put your infatuation with him to bed.

[bencher]

Cairney would love this, being compared to Messi. I would have thought even the most blinkered Fulham fan wouldn't make that comparison, but I guess I'm wrong!

[JimmyConway]

If 39 year-old Messi can get a hat-trick what would a 35 year-old Cairney do??

Trapeze Artist Perhaps??

[gang]

Nothing

[keithh]

Messi should have received a red card.

[Deadcowboys]

While Messi has been (maybe still is) a wonderful player, he has only ever played in physically easier leagues despite several attempts to bring him to the Prem. For me at least his achievements will always be less than Ronaldo's who did hack it in the Prem to great effect. Not sure either are that likeable people though.

[WindyCity]

It was great seeing Messi score a hattrick today at the highest level.

Ha.  Highest level?  Not sure about that.  Like most tournaments, there will always be a handful of weak sisters.  And this newly expanded WC no doubt contains teams that really do not deserve to be in this competition.  A hat trick during the final eight or four would be more impressive, and considered 'highest level'.

[bencher]

While Messi has been (maybe still is) a wonderful player, he has only ever played in physically easier leagues despite several attempts to bring him to the Prem. For me at least his achievements will always be less than Ronaldo's who did hack it in the Prem to great effect. Not sure either are that likeable people though.

When he played against Premier League teams he made light work of them. He would have been just fine.

[perry geyton]

Messi should have received a red card.

Straight down the back of his Achilles, any other player and that's a red

They want him on the pitch no matter what $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Deadcowboys]

While Messi has been (maybe still is) a wonderful player, he has only ever played in physically easier leagues despite several attempts to bring him to the Prem. For me at least his achievements will always be less than Ronaldo's who did hack it in the Prem to great effect. Not sure either are that likeable people though.

When he played against Premier League teams he made light work of them. He would have been just fine.

Week in week out season after season, you can only speculate. One thing for sure, he didn't want to test himself.

[Eton White]

It was great seeing Messi score a hattrick today at the highest level.

Ha.  Highest level?  Not sure about that.  Like most tournaments, there will always be a handful of weak sisters.  And this newly expanded WC no doubt contains teams that really do not deserve to be in this competition.  A hat trick during the final eight or four would be more impressive, and considered 'highest level'.

Algeria are no slouches. Ranked 27th in the World and have appeared at World Cups before. They're not exactly minnows.

[Nick Bateman]

Tom Cairney is the "Glenn Hoddle" of Fulham. Tony Gale, often a pundit on Fulham matches keeps saying how Cairney should be played more, and I agree.

As soon as Scotland play anyone decent they will lose because their manager has a blinkered and foolish idea of what Scotland are. They will never win the World Cup even with Tom Cairney but they might go further in the tournament to please the haggis-eating, kilt-wearing, whiskey-drinking, sporran-displaying, sassanach-loathing, Nico Sturgeon-embezelling, Tartan army!

[Coastwalker]

Tom Cairney is the "Glenn Hoddle" of Fulham. Tony Gale, often a pundit on Fulham matches keeps saying how Cairney should be played more, and I agree.

As soon as Scotland play anyone decent they will lose because their manager has a blinkered and foolish idea of what Scotland are. They will never win the World Cup even with Tom Cairney but they might go further in the tournament to please the haggis-eating, kilt-wearing, whiskey-drinking, sporran-displaying, sassanach-loathing, Nico Sturgeon-embezelling, Tartan army!

Absolutely stark raving bonkers.
Ever thought of seeking help?