The Argentina Football Association (AFA) released a photo of Lionel Messi celebrating his 39th birthday with teammates during the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 in Missouri, United States. Messi, born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, turned 39 on Wednesday, and the team marked the occasion with a cake and a group picture posted on the official X account. The caption called it the "party's grand finale."
Messi's Record-Breaking World Cup Campaign
Messi has been instrumental in Argentina's dominant start to the tournament, scoring all five goals in their two victories. In the opening match, he netted a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria. Against Austria, he scored a brace to secure a 2-0 victory, becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in men's FIFA World Cup history with 18 goals, surpassing Germany's Miroslav Klose (16).
He has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, equaling the record held by France's Just Fontaine and Brazil's Jairzinho. Additionally, Messi set a new record for most wins by a player in World Cup history, with 18 victories, surpassing Klose's 17.
Team Admiration and Legacy
The birthday celebration underscores the deep respect Messi commands within the squad. As Argentina's captain, he continues to lead the defending champions with stellar performances, further cementing his legacy as one of football's greatest players.
