Argentina captain Lionel Messi has revealed that the tears he shed after scoring in his country’s 3-0 victory over Algeria were triggered by personal circumstances “completely unrelated to football.”
The 38-year-old produced a memorable performance on his 200th appearance for Argentina, scoring a stunning hat-trick as the reigning world champions began their title defence in emphatic fashion.
Messi opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a trademark curling effort before being mobbed by teammates in celebration. Moments later, television cameras captured the veteran forward wiping tears from his face, prompting widespread speculation about the emotional moment.
Speaking after the match, Messi explained that the tears stemmed from challenges he had recently faced away from the pitch.
“Why did I cry? It was something completely unrelated to football,” Messi said.
“I went through some difficult days, but I’m grateful to the entire delegation and my team-mates because they were always by my side, giving me a lot of strength to help me get through it.”
The Inter Miami star went on to complete the first World Cup hat-trick of his illustrious career, adding two more goals to secure a dominant victory for Argentina.
The achievement saw Messi equal the World Cup goalscoring record held by former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, with both players now boasting 16 goals in the tournament’s history.
The match also marked another milestone in Messi’s legendary career, as he became the first player ever to appear in six FIFA World Cups. The landmark came exactly 20 years after his World Cup debut, when he announced himself on the global stage by scoring in Argentina’s 6-0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro.
Widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner helped Argentina secure their first opening-match victory at a World Cup as defending champions. The South Americans had previously suffered defeats in their opening games while defending the title in 1982 and 1990.
Messi’s remarkable display also silenced concerns over his fitness. Questions had been raised after he was substituted early due to muscle fatigue during his final MLS appearance for Inter Miami before the tournament.
Reflecting on his journey, Messi expressed gratitude for the experiences and success he has enjoyed throughout his career.
“It makes me very happy to have lived through everything that came my way,” he said.
“What I’m living through now is the cherry on top. I’m very happy and grateful for this wonderful group. I enjoy it so much.”
Messi received a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 80th minute, with supporters inside the Kansas City Stadium chanting his name in recognition of yet another record-breaking performance from the Argentine icon.
