Kansas: Defending world champions Argentina witnessed an emotional moment from their superstar footballer Lionel Messi during their FIFA World Cup match against Algeria here today. Messi was seen crying after scoring the opening goal of the match. While he did not fully explain the reason behind his tears, he did offer some insight into the emotional moment.
Argentina won the Group J encounter 3-0, with all three goals coming from Messi in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes. The tournament marks Messi’s record sixth FIFA World Cup appearance, and he registered the first World Cup hat-trick of his illustrious career. He also equalled the World Cup goalscoring record of German legend Miroslav Klose, taking his tally to 16 goals in the competition.
When Messi scored the opening goal in what became a memorable match, his teammates and the crowd celebrated wildly. However, the Argentine captain stood apart from the celebrations and was seen in tears.
Speaking about the emotional moment after the match, Messi said, “There is absolutely no football-related reason behind why I became emotional and cried. I have been going through some difficult days. My emotional reaction had nothing to do with the sport.”
ALSO READ: Messi’s Hat-Trick Powers Argentina To Stunning 3-0 Victory
The Argentine star did not provide any further details about why he broke down after scoring the first goal. However, he thanked his teammates, support staff and the entire Argentine delegation for standing by him during a challenging period.
“I am grateful to everyone who worked hard to ensure that I was fully fit and able to play in the World Cup. I am thankful to all of them. I am proud of everything I have achieved so far and very happy,” Messi said.
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