Argentina captain Lionel Messi celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday in a manner that has become synonymous with his legendary career — by focusing on preparation rather than celebration.
The FIFA World Cup-winning icon shared a video on Instagram showing himself engaged in an intense workout session, highlighting his commitment to maintaining peak fitness during Argentina’s ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign.
In the video, Messi can be seen working through a series of upper-body and strength-training exercises, continuing preparations for Argentina’s final group-stage match against Jordan in Texas on June 28.
Birthday Celebrations Take A Backseat
While most footballers might choose to celebrate such a milestone with family and friends, Messi opted to spend part of his birthday in the gym as Argentina gear up for the knockout stages of the tournament.
The 39-year-old enters a new year in his life while continuing to rewrite football history on the world’s biggest stage.
Argentina have already secured qualification for the Round of 16, with Messi playing a central role in their success so far.
Messi Dominating FIFA World Cup 2026
The Argentine superstar has been in sensational form throughout the tournament.
Messi has scored all five of Argentina’s goals in the competition, carrying his side through the group stage with a series of record-breaking performances.
After opening the campaign with his first-ever FIFA World Cup hat-trick against Algeria, Messi followed it up with another outstanding display against Austria, scoring twice in Argentina’s victory.
His goals against Austria helped him surpass German legend Miroslav Klose and become the outright leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.
Messi now has 18 World Cup goals, moving ahead of Klose’s previous record of 16.
Historic Records Continue To Fall
According to football statistics platform Opta, Messi has become only the second player in FIFA World Cup history to score his country’s first five goals in a single tournament.
The only other player to achieve that feat was Russia’s Oleg Salenko during the 1994 World Cup.
Messi’s performances have also highlighted his remarkable longevity.
Against Austria, he registered 71 touches and became the oldest striker since detailed records began in 1966 to record more than 50 touches in a World Cup match.
The Argentine captain also equalled another historic achievement by scoring in six consecutive FIFA World Cup matches, matching records held by France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho.
Most Successful Player In World Cup History
Messi’s latest victory also saw him become the player with the most wins in FIFA World Cup history.
Argentina’s triumph over Austria marked Messi’s 18th World Cup victory, allowing him to surpass Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 17 wins.
The milestone further strengthens Messi’s legacy as one of the greatest players ever to grace the tournament.
Focus Shifts To Jordan Clash
Despite already securing qualification for the Round of 16, Argentina still have one group-stage match remaining against Jordan.
The fixture, scheduled for June 28 in Texas, will determine Argentina’s final standing in Group J heading into the knockout rounds.
With Messi continuing to deliver match-winning performances and maintaining his rigorous fitness routine even on his birthday, Argentina will be hopeful that their captain can guide them deep into the tournament.
As he enters his 39th year, Messi shows little sign of slowing down, continuing to combine elite fitness, relentless professionalism and record-breaking performances on football’s biggest stage.