Why Did Messi Cry After Scoring in Argentina's World Cup Opener?

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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Argentina captain Lionel Messi was overcome with emotion after scoring in his team's 3-0 victory over Algeria in the opening match of Group J at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

The 38-year-old forward appeared close to tears after scoring Argentina's opening goal, with television cameras capturing his emotional reaction moments after the strike.

Messi broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. Rodrigo De Paul's through ball found Messi in the middle of the pitch, allowing the Argentine captain to advance before unleashing a long-range effort from outside the penalty area that Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane was unable to stop.

After the goal, Messi's emotional expression quickly became one of the main talking points of the match. Replays showed the veteran forward wiping away tears as he celebrated.

Messi Opens Up About Emotional Moment

Messi later explained that his reaction was not only related to football but also connected to personal challenges he had faced before the tournament.

"I cried after the first goal, yes… but it was something completely unrelated to football," Messi said, as quoted by journalist Fabrizio Romano on social media platform X.

The Argentina captain admitted that he had experienced a difficult period leading up to the World Cup, making the moment even more meaningful.

"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 to help me get through it," he said.

Messi also thanked Argentina supporters who filled the stadium, saying the atmosphere once again showed the special connection between the national team and its fans.

"I'm grateful to the fans, because once again they've shown that Argentina is crazy about this - we packed the stadium again," he said, as quoted by BBC.

Historic Hat-Trick for Argentina Captain

Messi went on to complete a hat-trick in Argentina's dominant victory over Algeria. The three goals brought his World Cup tally to 16, matching former Germany striker Miroslav Klose's record as the tournament's all-time leading scorer.

The achievement added another milestone to Messi's remarkable career. The hat-trick marked his first in World Cup history and came during his record sixth appearance at the tournament.

According to Athlon Sports, Messi's emotional reaction may also reflect his awareness that the 2026 World Cup could be his final appearance on football's biggest stage.

FIFA records show that Messi's latest World Cup goals came exactly 20 years after his tournament debut. He first appeared as a substitute during Argentina's group-stage match against Serbia and Montenegro at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Argentina will next face Austria on June 22, while Algeria will meet Jordan in their second Group J match.

Read: Modric Says Croatia 'Not Afraid' of England Ahead of World Cup Clash

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