Lionel Messi explains tears after Argentina goal were 'unrelated to football'

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has shed light on his emotional reaction after scoring the opening goal in his side's 3-0 victory over Algeria to begin their World Cup campaign. The 38-year-old was seen wiping away tears during the celebrations following his 18th-minute strike.

Why did I cry? It was something completely unrelated to football. I went through some difficult days, but I'm grateful to the entire delegation and my team-mates because they were always by my side, giving me a lot of strength to help me get through it. Lionel Messi

The match marked a historic milestone for Messi, who was making his 200th appearance for his country. By scoring a hat-trick, he brought his World Cup finals goal tally to 16, drawing level with Germany's Miroslav Klose as the tournament's all-time leading scorer. Additionally, Messi became the first player in history to feature in six different World Cups.

This performance helped Argentina secure their first-ever opening match win as defending champions. Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister praised the impact of his captain after the final whistle: «There are no words to describe him. If anyone thought this team was better without Leo, today it was proven that the opposite is true. He is our most important player.»

Argentina will look to build on this momentum when they face Austria in their second Group J match on Monday, June 22.