How Messi Stays at the Top at 39, With Science and AI

Lionel Messi has begun Argentina’s 2026 World Cup title defense in spectacular fashion, scoring a hat trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria in his 200th appearance for the national team. The performance came two days before his 39th birthday and drew an emotional reaction from coach Lionel Scaloni, while stars such as Erling Haaland posted stunned selfies online saying, "Messi is insane."

A detailed Athletic report says Messi’s longevity is not just about talent, but also about a highly controlled mix of science, technology, artificial intelligence and fierce competitiveness. At Inter Miami, new coach Guillermo Hoyos introduced a brutal internal mini-tournament called the "Super League," with small-sided teams, daily standings on a locker-room whiteboard, and a format that pushed Messi to more than 80 goals, while no other Miami player topped 30.

The article says Messi’s daily routine has been transformed to reduce the muscle injuries and vomiting spells that once troubled him. He no longer eats chocolate or drinks soda, and his diet now consists only of fish, premium meat and salads. Inter Miami also upgraded its Fort Lauderdale training facilities and kept Walter Insaurralde, Argentina’s official physiotherapist, close to him, while Messi and close friend Rodrigo De Paul do double sessions, resistance work and sprints each week.

Argentina has also used AI to manage him. Leandro Petersen, the federation’s chief marketing officer, said the team can track a player’s full history, including minutes played, past injuries and precise nutrition habits. That data helped the medical staff build a personalized recovery plan when Messi arrived at camp with a lingering hamstring injury and had not trained for a week, setting up his standout display against Algeria. Messi is now playing his sixth World Cup, matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s record, and with the 2030 tournament set to open with a ceremonial match in Buenos Aires, the story asks whether this will really be his last.