Lionel Messi produced another major moment for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, scoring a spectacular goal one week before his 39th birthday. He struck in the 17th minute with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area to put Argentina ahead against Algeria.
The goal, described by Athletik as the start of Messi’s “last dance,” came after Argentina’s first goal of the campaign, when he curled the ball beyond Luca Zidane’s reach. The outlet wrote that after questions over whether he still had it, Messi’s answer was clear, he still does. Shortly after scoring, Messi was shown visibly emotional and in tears after the goal and the celebrations that followed.
The strike also pushed Messi into a historical ranking, making him the third-oldest scorer in World Cup history, behind Pepe, who scored at 39, and Roger Milla, who scored at 42. Beyond the goal, he also drew attention for an unusual defensive contribution, recovering three balls in his own half, something the report said should not be happening with Messi at the 2026 tournament.
