The day Lionel Messi entered history with his 200th appearance for the Argentine national team was also the day he experienced the most special emotional levels.
The 38-year-old superstar scored a hat-trick to help the defending champions defeat Algeria 3-0 in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, but behind that sublime performance are the off-field worries he is facing.
After scoring the opening goal, Messi could not hide his emotion. The Argentine captain admitted: "Honestly, this is completely unrelated to sports. The past few days have been really difficult and complicated for me. I am extremely grateful to the coaching staff as well as my teammates, they have always been by my side and given me strength to overcome this stage.
According to Argentine media, the reason why Messi is mentally affected stems from the health situation of his father - Mr. Jorge Messi. The father who is also Messi's long-time representative is said to have fought illness for many months.
Earlier this year, he was hospitalized for in-depth cardiovascular and neurological examinations. In the days leading up to Argentina's opening match, his health condition was said to have deteriorated.
Despite entering the tournament with many off-field worries, Messi still knows how to make a difference. 3 goals against Algeria not only brought 3 points for Argentina but also helped him equal the record of 16 goals at World Cups of legend Miroslav Klose.
At the age of 38 and possibly experiencing his last World Cup in his career, Messi continues to prove his value with a classy performance.
