What do you gift Lionel Messi on his birthday? The legendary star from Argentina boasts a remarkable collection of awards and a comfortable fortune.
As he celebrated his 39th birthday during the World Cup 2026, the defending champions, now qualified for the knockout stage, celebrated their captain’s special day, who is also the tournament’s all-time leading goal scorer.
Messi marked his birthday with a party at Argentina’s training facility in Kansas City, Missouri, surrounded by a festive atmosphere, a variety of gifts, and a heartfelt tribute from his teammates.
Throughout the tournament, Messi has been pivotal, scoring all of Argentina’s goals so far: three in the opening match against Algeria and two against Austria. He now has a total of 18 World Cup goals, surpassing legends like Miroslav Klose and Kylian Mbappé.
On social media, Messi posted a picture of himself with a cake, celebrating with several teammates. The cake was from Pan Caliente, a Kansas City bakery run by an Argentine pastry chef.
Another image showed the Argentina players gathered around Messi, all wearing T-shirts featuring a personal photo of them with their captain.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi, right, trains with teammates for the World Cup soccer tournament (AP)
The T-shirts had a touching message: “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. May you be immensely happy,” as shared by forward Julián Álvarez on social media.
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FIFA, along with his current club Inter Miami and his former team Barcelona, also extended their birthday wishes to Messi.
In Rosario, Messi’s hometown, around 5,000 children from local schools serenaded him with “Happy Birthday” and some brought cakes to celebrate the occasion.
Report contributed by AP