KANSAS CITY — Lionel Messi celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday while enjoying one of the most memorable World Cups of his remarkable career, with Argentina already through to the knockout stage and the captain standing alone as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
Messi marked the occasion alongside his Argentina teammates at the team’s training base in Kansas City, Missouri, during his sixth World Cup appearance and his fifth birthday celebration at the tournament.
The Argentina captain has been the driving force behind his team’s strong start, scoring all five of Argentina’s goals so far — including a hat trick against Algeria and a brace against Austria.
His 18 World Cup goals have moved him clear of former record holder Miroslav Klose and France star Kylian Mbappé, cementing his place as the tournament’s leading scorer.
Argentina has already secured a place in the knockout stage as the defending champions continue their title defense.
Messi shared photos from the celebrations on social media, including an image of himself with a birthday cake prepared by Pan Caliente, a Kansas City bakery owned by an Argentine pastry chef.
Argentina players also posed with their captain while wearing personalized T-shirts featuring photographs of themselves with Messi.
The message printed on the shirts read: “To the man who changed our lives, gave us unforgettable moments, and made us believe that dreams are possible. The best part wasn’t just seeing it — it was living it with you. Happy birthday, Captain. We love you.”
Forward Julián Álvarez shared images of the celebrations on social media.
Birthday messages also poured in from FIFA, Inter Miami and Barcelona as fans around the world paid tribute to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
In Messi’s hometown of Rosario, around 5,000 schoolchildren gathered to sing “Happy Birthday” to the Argentina captain, with several bringing cakes to mark the occasion.
With Argentina already through to the knockout stage and Messi in record-breaking form, the 39-year-old continues to add new chapters to one of football’s greatest careers.
Source: Saudi Gazette