Argentina captain Lionel Messi has disclosed that the tears he shed after scoring the opening goal in his side’s 3-0 victory over Algeria were linked to personal challenges rather than football. The 38-year-old Inter Miami star delivered a memorable performance, scoring his first-ever World Cup hat-trick as the reigning champions began their campaign with a dominant win.
Messi appeared emotional after finding the net to give Argentina the lead, prompting speculation about the reason behind his reaction. However, speaking after the match, the veteran forward clarified that his emotions stemmed from issues away from the game.
“I cried after the first goal, yes… but it was something completely unrelated to football,” Messi said.
Reflecting on the difficult period he had endured, he added: “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.”
Messi’s hat-trick capped an outstanding display as Argentina comfortably defeated Algeria in their opening fixture.
