Lionel Messi, the FIFA World Cup-winning captain of Argentina, celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday with no break in his training regimen. The legendary forward shared a video on Instagram showing himself engaged in a full-intensity workout, focusing on upper body and arm exercises, proving that age is no barrier for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Messi's record-breaking World Cup campaign
Messi has been in sensational form at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, scoring all five of Argentina's goals in the tournament so far. He opened the campaign with a hat-trick against Algeria, followed by a brace against Austria. According to OptaJoe, Messi is only the second player in World Cup history to score his country's first five goals in a single edition, matching Oleg Salenko's feat for Russia in 1994.
His brace against Austria not only secured Argentina's place in the round of 16 but also saw him surpass Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals to become the all-time leading goal-scorer in FIFA World Cup history, with 18 goals. Messi also equaled the records of France's Just Fontaine and Brazil's Jairzinho by scoring in his sixth consecutive World Cup match.
New milestones and upcoming clash
Messi also set a new record for the most wins by a player in World Cup history, achieving his 18th victory and surpassing Klose's tally of 17 wins. In the match against Austria, Messi had 71 touches, making him the oldest striker since 1966 to record 50-plus touches in a World Cup game.
Argentina has already advanced to the knockout stage, and their final group stage match is against Jordan on June 28 in Texas. Messi's dedication to fitness, even on his birthday, underscores his commitment to leading his team deep into the tournament.
