Lionel Messi turned 39th birthday on Wednesday while Argentina camped at the World Cup base in Kansas City, Missouri. The defending champions already booked a round‑of‑32 spot, and Messi entered the matchday with a historic milestone, becoming the tournament’s all‑time leading scorer. The celebration echoed through the camp, boosting morale before the next match.

Messi has now netted 18 World Cup goals, two more than the previous record held jointly by Miroslav Klose and Kylian Mbappé. He scored all three goals in Argentina’s 2‑1 win over Algeria and added a brace in the 2‑0 triumph over Austria, cementing his influence. His tally also puts him ahead of Brazil’s legendary forward, reinforcing his claim as scorer in World Cup history.

To mark the day, Messi posted a photo with a cake from Kansas City bakery Pan Caliente, run by an Argentine pastry chef. Teammates posed in shirts bearing personal photos with the captain, while forward Julián Álvarez shared a message praising Messi’s impact. The celebration underscored his central role as Argentina eyes a title defense.