FIFA 2026: Messi says his tears after first goal were caused by personal ‘difficult days’

An emotional Lionel Messi wiped his tears with his shirt after scoring Argentina’s first goal against Algeria at the World Cup, a goal that marked the start of a memorable performance in which he scored three times to secure a 3-0 win. ‌

But while his first World Cup hat-trick brought many Argentine fans to tears of joy, Messi said he was crying for a personal reason that had nothing to do with the sport. «Why was I crying? It had nothing to do with football. «I have had some difficult days,» Messi, who is playing in a record sixth World Cup, said after Tuesday’s match.

“But I am grateful to the entire delegation and my teammates because they were always by my side and gave me a lot of strength to help me get through it.” Messi, who turns 39 next week, has equaled Miroslav Klose’s record by scoring 16 goals at the World Cup. Argentina will continue their title defense on Monday with a Group J match against Austria.

Published on June 17, 2026