Messi celebrates 39th birthday at World Cup base

Lionel Messi celebrated his 39th birthday on June 25, 2026 at Argentina’s World Cup training base in Kansas City, Missouri, as the defending champions prepared for the knockout stage. Messi has scored all five Argentine goals – three versus Algeria and two versus Austria – raising his World Cup tally to 18, two more than Miroslav Klose and Kylian Mbappé. Messi’s celebration took place at the team’s Kansas City training base, where a cake from Pan Caliente, a local bakery owned by an Argentine pastry chef, was presented to him. Teammates gathered around the cake, sharing photos and messages on social media. With his 18th World Cup goal, Messi became the tournament’s career scoring leader. He remains the sole scorer for Argentina in the group stage.

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Forward Julián Álvarez posted a photo of the birthday T‑shirts, which featured personal photos of each player with Messi, and included a message. “To the man who changed our lives, gave us unforgettable moments, and made us believe that dreams are possible… Happy birthday, Captain; we love you. May you be immensely happy,” Álvarez wrote. FIFA, Messi’s club Inter Miami, and his former club Barcelona all sent birthday wishes on social media. Their messages highlighted his impact on football worldwide.

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In Rosario, around 5,000 local schoolchildren gathered to sing “Happy Birthday” to Messi. A few children even brought cakes, adding a personal touch to the festivities. Argentina have already qualified for the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup, with Messi leading the side. As defending champions, Argentina aim to retain the trophy.