Lionel Messi gets World Cup birthday treat with Argentina squad

MEXICO CITY — Lionel Messi celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday during a World Cup that has brought him much joy. The defending champions, Argentina, have already secured their place in the knockout stage, and Messi has become the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.

Messi celebrated the special day with his teammates at Argentina’s training camp in Kansas City, Missouri. This marks his sixth World Cup and the fifth birthday he has celebrated during the tournament—only missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which occurred in November and December.

Historic Achievements

Messi has netted all five of Argentina’s goals so far, scoring three in their opening game against Algeria and two in their win over Austria. With 18 goals in total during World Cup tournaments, he has surpassed Miroslav Klose and Kylian Mbappé by two goals.

On social media, Messi posted a picture featuring a birthday cake, shared with some teammates. The cake was crafted by Pan Caliente, a Kansas City bakery owned by an Argentine pastry chef.

In another celebratory image, Argentina’s players posed with Messi, all donning T-shirts that featured personal photos with their captain. “To the man who changed our lives, gave us unforgettable moments, and made us believe that dreams are possible … Happy birthday, Captain; we love you,” the T-shirts proclaimed, according to a post by forward Julián Álvarez.

Birthday Wishes and Celebrations

Birthday messages poured in for Messi from FIFA, his current club Inter Miami, and former club Barcelona. In Rosario, his hometown, around 5,000 children from local schools sang “Happy Birthday” to him, with some even bringing cakes to celebrate the occasion.