Lionel Messi was moved to tears after scoring a historic hat trick in Argentina’s 3-0 opening win at the 2026 World Cup on June 16, exactly 20 years after his first World Cup goal. The 39-year-old matched Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup record of 16 goals, a milestone he also acknowledged as a great honor.
Messi said his tears were not about football alone. “Why did I cry? It’s something unrelated to football. I’ve had difficult days, but I am grateful to the delegation and my teammates, who were always by my side, gave me a lot of strength and helped me get through it,” he said after the match.
Reflecting on the scoring record, Messi said it was “a great honor” to be mentioned alongside the game’s greats, including Brazil’s Ronaldo, whom he grew up watching. He added that while Ronaldo was one of the greatest players ever, “in the end, these are just statistics.” Messi also said he loves football, called it his passion since childhood, and stressed that he gives everything when he is fit. He noted that this is his sixth World Cup and said Argentina’s first match was difficult, especially in the first half, but the team improved after the break.
Messi also thanked Argentine fans supporting the team in the United States. He said they filled the stadium again, estimating there may have been 80,000 spectators or more, and praised the sacrifices they make to follow the national team wherever it plays, whether in Qatar or now in the United States.
