Lionel Messi Celebrates 39th Birthday with Heartfelt Tributes from Teammates

A Special Birthday Celebration for Messi

On June 24, Lionel Messi celebrated his 39th birthday, and his Argentina teammates honored him with personalized shirts featuring their photos together, as reported by a sports media outlet. This gesture reflects the immense respect and admiration Messi holds within the team.

The Argentina Football Association (AFA) also took the opportunity to send birthday wishes to their captain. Additionally, they recognized team chefs Diego Lacovone and Antonia Farias, who share the same birthday as Messi, in a post on social media.

In their message, the AFA wrote, "Happy birthday to our Captain Leo Messi and our chefs Diego Iacovone and Antonia Farias! Wishing them all happiness!"

Messi's Continued Dominance on the Field

Born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Santa Fe, Messi continues to shine at the pinnacle of his career. As a key player for Argentina in the ongoing 2026 World Cup, he has been instrumental in setting new records and solidifying a legacy that transcends generations.

So far in the tournament, Messi has led Argentina to impressive victories, scoring all five goals in their two matches. The team kicked off their World Cup journey with a commanding 3-0 win against Algeria, where Messi netted a hat-trick.

In their second match against Austria, Messi scored a remarkable brace, securing a 2-0 victory for the defending champions. This achievement not only clinched the win but also made him the all-time leading goalscorer in men's FIFA World Cup history, surpassing Germany's Miroslav Klose. He broke Klose's record by scoring his 17th and 18th World Cup goals, with the first coming in the 38th minute and the second in stoppage time.

At 39, Messi has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, tying the all-time record held by France's Just Fontaine and Brazil's Jairzinho. Furthermore, he has set a new record for the most wins by a player in FIFA World Cup history, achieving his 18th victory, surpassing Klose's previous record of 17.