Lionel Messi turned 39 at the World Cup on Wednesday, and his Argentina teammates didn't let the moment pass quietly. They showed up wearing custom shirts — photos of themselves with Messi on the front, a handwritten-style message on the back.
"To the man who changed our lives, gave us unforgettable moments, and made us believe that dreams are possible... The best part wasn't just seeing it — it was living it with you. Happy birthday, Captain; we love you," the message read, per ESPN's translation.
It lands differently when you consider where Argentina is right now. Messi has scored every single goal the defending champions have managed through two matches — a hat trick against Algeria in the opener, then a brace against Austria. Five goals. Zero from anyone else. The birthday tributes feel earned, not choreographed.
Still seeing the game before everyone else
Pedri, who shared a dressing room with Messi at Barcelona, put it simply: "He sees football a little before the others and knows where to be to score a goal." That's not a compliment from a fan. That's a diagnosis from someone who watched it up close at training, day after day.
"What he does with the age he has, only he can do," Pedri added. Hard to argue when the man is running the World Cup's scoring charts at 39.
Argentina also presented Messi with a cake from Kansas City bakery Pan Caliente, founded by Argentine chef Silvia Miguel — a nice touch that kept things grounded amid all the on-pitch noise.
For anyone tracking Argentina's odds deep into this tournament, the picture is straightforward: this team goes as far as Messi takes them. Right now, he's carrying the entire attacking load. If he stays fit and keeps this form, they're a genuine threat to repeat. If anything disrupts him, the goals dry up fast — because no one else has contributed one yet.
Five goals in two games. Still the one his teammates write love letters to. Still the one Pedri calls a step ahead of everyone else on the pitch.
