Lionel Messi broke his silence after scoring his first World Cup hat-trick against Algeria on Tuesday June 16.
The football GOAT has explained why he broke down in tears during his stunning hat-trick that tied him with Miroslab Klose.
Messi’s hat-trick gave Argentina a 3-0 victory over Algeria in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup.
The emotional moment came when the other Argentine players dispersed; Messi was then seen wiping tears on his shirt before play resumed.
Messi opened his scoresheet in the 17th minute with a superb strike from just outside the penalty area.
The 38-year-old Argentine icon explained that the emotion had nothing to do with the exploits on the pitch.
“Honestly, without any relation to sport, I went through difficult and complicated days,” Messi said in a post-match interview.
“I am grateful to the whole delegation, to my teammates. They have always been there for me, as always.
“They gave me a lot of strength to get through it, and that’s it.”
The battle for the golden boot has just begun, with Messi and Mbappe now face to face.
Messi will have an opportunity in hand on Monday, June 22, when Argentina faces Austria.
