Lionel Messi kicked off his World Cup campaign with an extraordinary evening . Three goals, a 3-0 victory for Argentina against Algeria, a world record equaled… and tears that had nothing to do with football.
A historic hat trick, a raw emotion
Argentina made a perfect start to their World Cup title defense, defeating Algeria 3-0 in Kansas City. Messi scored all three of Argentina's goals, netting the first hat trick of his World Cup career. With these three goals, he joined Miroslav Klose at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring charts with 16 goals. But the most striking image of the evening wasn't just on the pitch. After his first goal, Messi appeared deeply moved. The tears visible on his face immediately touched the fans and his teammates.
"Difficult days" away from the field
After the match, Messi explained that his emotion stemmed not from the game itself, the record, or the sporting context. He spoke of the "difficult days" he had gone through before the match and thanked his teammates, the staff, and the Argentine delegation for their support. The issue at hand concerns his father, Jorge Messi, whose health is a cause for concern. He reportedly experienced complications in recent days, after having already been hospitalized earlier this year. The family has not made the precise medical details public.
Jorge Messi, father, agent and pillar
Jorge Messi is not only Lionel Messi's father. He is also one of the key figures in his career. Present since the player's early days in Rosario, he supported his move to Barcelona at a very young age and managed his professional affairs for many years. This relationship explains the emotional weight of the moment.
From a sporting perspective, Messi responded in the strongest possible way. At 38, in his sixth World Cup and 200th international match, he remains central to Argentina's game. His hat-trick secured three points for the Albiceleste and an ideal start in Group J. On a personal level, the evening took on another dimension. Messi celebrated, then broke down…
