Says Messi: 'Football is my love; as long as I am fit, I will keep playing'

Argentina made a royal start to the World Cup with a hat-trick against Algeria. With this hat-trick, Lionel Messi also equaled Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals—the highest in World Cup history. However, after the match, holding the Player of the Match award, a different Messi was revealed. The Albiceleste captain openly admitted that beneath his killer instinct on the pitch, he had been going through a mental struggle.

In an emotional voice, Messi said, "To be honest, for personal reasons completely outside of football, I have been going through very difficult and complex situations over the last few days. I am grateful to the entire delegation and my teammates. They have always been by my side, as they always are. They have given me a lot of strength to get through this tough time."

At an age nearing 39, what is the secret behind such an incredible performance on the field? Messi revealed that pure joy of playing football is what drives him. Citing tennis legend Rafael Nadal as an example, Messi said, "I love football. It has been my passion since childhood. When I feel good, I give it my all. We recently watched a series on Rafael Nadal, and I found many similarities with myself. Like Nadal, I always want to give my best. As long as my body allows, I will stay on the pitch."

The record of surpassing Klose and Ronaldo Nazário to become the top scorer in World Cup history, however, does not seem to weigh much on the superstar. When asked about the record, he said, "To be honest, I don't think about records. Being alongside legends like Klose or Ronaldo is certainly an honor, but at the end of the day, it's just a number. Today, Mbappé also scored two goals—he will come up on that list too. Ronaldo (Nazário) is one of the best footballers I have ever seen, yet he is not number one on that list. So these are just statistics—nothing bigger than that to me."

Analyzing the match, Messi added, "We knew the match would be tough. Algeria's players are very fast and clever. We struggled a bit in the first half, but we got organized in the second. The first match of a World Cup is always difficult. From our experience in the last World Cup (2022), we know that no one here gives anyone an easy game. Teams study us and come onto the pitch prepared. Physically and tactically, this World Cup is going to be much more competitive."

Messi's royal comeback on the pitch, despite the storms in his personal life, is not only bringing relief to millions of Argentina's supporters, but this hat-trick night will also leave a lasting impression on the hearts of football romantics for a long time.