Argentina captain Lionel Messi has revealed that the tears he shed after scoring in Argentina’s 3-0 World Cup victory over Algeria were linked to personal struggles he had endured in recent days and not to events on the pitch.
The 38-year-old was captured wiping away tears during the celebrations after curling homehis first goal of the night in the 18th minute.
Speaking after the match, Messi explained that the emotional moment was caused by circumstances away from football.
“Why did I cry? It was something completely unrelated to football,” Messi said.
“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.”
The hat-trick was Messi’s first at a World Cup and took his tally in the competition to 16 goals, drawing him level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
The match also marked another milestone in Messi’s remarkable career as he became the first player to feature in six FIFA World Cups, exactly 20 years after making his debut at the tournament.
Reflecting on his latest achievement, Messi said he was grateful for the support he has received throughout his career.
“It makes me very happy to have lived through everything that came my way,” he said.
“What I’m living through now is the cherry on top. I’m very happy and grateful for this wonderful group. I enjoy it so much.”
