Messi Opens Up on Personal Struggles Behind Emotional Tears After Hat-Trick vs Algeria at 2026 World Cup

Lionel Messi scored three times as Argentina opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 3-0 victory over Algeria in Group J on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. Yet the moment that drew the most attention was not the goals themselves, but the tears the Argentine captain shed immediately after finding the net for the first time in the match.

Speaking to the media after the final whistle, Messi was direct in clarifying that his emotional reaction had nothing to do with events on the pitch. “I cried after the first goal, yes… but it was something completely unrelated to football,” he said. “I went through some difficult days, but I’m grateful to the entire delegation and my teammates because they were always by my side, giving me a lot of strength.”

Messi’s three goals arrived in the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes, completing a hat-trick he had never previously managed across five World Cup appearances. The performance also elevated his total World Cup goal tally to 16, drawing him level with German striker Miroslav Klose, who had long held that benchmark as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.

The occasion carried additional statistical weight. The match was Messi’s 200th cap for the Argentine national team and his sixth FIFA World Cup tournament — a record in itself. At the age of 38, he also became the oldest player in World Cup history to score both a brace and a hat-trick in a single game, surpassing records that had stood for decades.

Argentina entered the tournament as defending champions, having lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy in Qatar in 2022, ending a 36-year wait for the country’s third title. The 2026 edition, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, represents the first World Cup to feature 48 teams following FIFA’s expansion of the competition format. For Argentina, a successful title defence would place them among the most elite nations in the tournament’s history.

The Algeria match was also the first major test for coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad in competitive conditions at this tournament, and Messi’s individual contribution immediately reinforced his central role in the team’s title ambitions despite his advancing age. His club form at Inter Miami had drawn scrutiny in the months leading up to the tournament, but his Group J opening display provided an emphatic early response.

Messi’s disclosure of personal difficulties prior to the match has not been elaborated upon further, and no additional details have been confirmed. Argentina’s next fixture in Group J will provide the next opportunity to assess whether the reigning champions can maintain the level of performance shown against Algeria as they look to advance through the expanded tournament bracket.