Lionel Messi delivered a masterclass to launch Argentina’s 2026 World Cup title defence, scoring a historic hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Algeria in Kansas City on 17 June. Yet it was not the goals that defined the night’s most lasting image, it was the Argentine captain visibly fighting back tears after his opener, an emotional outburst he later explained had nothing to do with football.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Messi addressed the moment directly. “A matter totally unrelated to sport,” he said. “I went through some difficult, complicated days.”
The 38-year-old kept the personal details private but was emphatic in his gratitude towards his teammates and the Argentine delegation for their support in the days leading up to the tournament. “I am grateful to the entire delegation, to my teammates. They made a lot of effort to make sure I am doing well,” he said.
On the pitch, Messi’s performance was historic. His three goals took him to 16 World Cup goals in total, drawing level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in the men’s tournament. Entering the match on 13 goals, he surpassed a distinguished list of legends including Gerd Muller and Brazil’s Ronaldo in a single evening.
When asked whether he follows such milestones, Messi was characteristically understated. “It is an honour to be up there, because of what it means, to be alongside Klose, those who are there,” he said. “In the end, it is just statistics and nothing more. Ronaldo, from what I have seen, is one of the greatest, and he is not first.”
Messi closed his press conference with a telling personal reflection, drawing a comparison between himself and tennis great Rafael Nadal. “I am watching the Rafael Nadal series and I identify with it a lot,” he said. “I think we are very similar in that sense, we always want to give our maximum.”
