Lionel Messi turns 39, sets World Cup records as GOAT

Lionel Messi celebrated his 39th birthday on 24 June, marking another milestone in a career that continues to rewrite football history. At the 2026 FIFA World Cup he opened the tournament with a hat‑trick against Algeria, becoming the oldest player ever to score three goals in a single World Cup match. He then matched the tournament’s all‑time scoring record of 16 goals and, in the following game versus Austria, raised his tally to 18, overtaking Miroslav Klose as the competition’s leading scorer.

Messi’s club journey includes Barcelona, Paris Saint‑Germain and a move to Inter Miami in 2023, where he helped the team win its first MLS Cup in 2025 and earned multiple MVP honours. The articles also note Cristiano Ronaldo’s parallel achievements at age 41, including a two‑goal performance against Uzbekistan that made him the oldest World Cup scorer and the only player to net goals in six different tournaments.