Lionel Messi Details "Difficult” Days Ahead of World Cup 2026

Ashlyn Harris Shares Her Game-Winning Advice for World Cup 2026 Athletes

Lionel Messi has already more than proven himself.

It’s why his tearful response to his hat trick in Argentina’s opening World Cup match against Algeria had nothing to do with the fact the goals launched him into a new echelon of FIFA record-makers.

“Honestly, completely unrelated to the sport,” he told reporters following the match, per The Athletic. “I went through some difficult, complicated days.”

And though the 38-year-old didn’t elaborate on his private struggles, he did express his appreciation to those who have always had his back on and off the pitch.

“I’m grateful to the entire delegation, to my teammates,” he added. “They were always there for me, as always. They gave me a lot of strength to get through this, and that’s all.”

The three goals not only cemented Argentina’s victory against Algeria in the group stage, but they also made Messi the oldest player to score a hat trick at the World Cup and launched him alongside Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the top scorers ever at the tournament with 16 goals apiece.

But for the soccer legend—who helped lead his country to victory at the 2022 FIFA tournament—stats are not why he keeps playing.

As he noted, Brazil’s Ronaldo Nazario “was one of the greatest” and isn’t in first place, having sunk 15 goals throughout his own FIFA tenure. It’s why while Messi stressed the significance of being listed alongside Klose, “It’s a statistic and nothing more.”

Maja Hitij - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

“While it’s an honor to be able to compete with all of them,” he said, “it doesn’t mean anything to me.”

That idea that stats and World Cup wins don’t define a player is shred by the Argentine’s peer Cristiano Ronaldo, who at 41 is appearing in his sixth World Cup for Portugal.

And while he’s hoping to help bring his country home its first World Cup, he told Piers Morgan in 2025 that the elusive prize “will not define if I’m one of the best of history.”

"If you ask me, 'Christian, is it a dream to win the World Cup?' No, it's not a dream," he added. "To win the World Cup, nothing will change my name in the history of football."

For more information on the international stars competing at this year’s FIFA World Cup, read on.

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