On the Kansas City pitch in the United States, Messi delivered a superb performance, scoring all three goals to help Argentina secure a resounding victory over Algeria in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup .
Approaching his 39th birthday (June 24th), and having previously caused concerns about muscle strain and uncertainty about his fitness for a final World Cup, Messi delivered an absolutely amazing gift to football fans worldwide.
Scoring a hat-trick on the opening day was probably something even Messi himself wouldn't have expected, given the difficulties he faced before the World Cup began.
After the match, the number 10 revealed the reason why he burst into tears after scoring Argentina's opening goal in the 17th minute: " The reason has absolutely nothing to do with sports . I've been through some difficult, complicated days. I cried because of that. I'm grateful to the whole team for everyone's support ."
Although he didn't explain it specifically, it was clear that Messi was emotional, having successfully overcome difficulties to help his team achieve success on the field.
Messi then revealed who had inspired and motivated him during this period, as he entered the final years of his football career.
“ I love football, I’ve loved it since I was a child, and when I’m in good shape, I always try to give it my all. Right now, we’re watching a documentary about Rafael Nadal and I feel a lot of empathy for him.”
I'm quite similar to Nadal at that time: always wanting to give it my all. I find that I have that same spirit. And if I'm healthy enough, I will always try my best.”
When asked about matching Klose's record for goals scored (16 goals) at the World Cup, Messi remained humble and unconcerned:
“ Of all the players I’ve ever seen play, Ronaldo (the Brazilian legend) is one of the greatest. But he’s not at the top of this goalscoring list, so that’s simply a statistic .”
(Source: VTV)
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/argentina-3-0-algeria-messi-noi-ly-do-khoc-bat-ngo-goi-ten-nadal-2525868.html
