Ashlyn Harris Shares Her Game-Winning Advice for World Cup 2026 Athletes
Lionel Messi has already more than proven himself.
It’s why his tearful response to his hat trick in Argentina’s opening World Cup match against Algeria had nothing to do with the fact the goals launched him into a new echelon of FIFA record-makers.
“Honestly, completely unrelated to the sport,” he told reporters following the match, per The Athletic. “I went through some difficult, complicated days.”
And though the 38-year-old didn’t elaborate on his private struggles, he did express his appreciation to those who have always had his back on and off the pitch.
“I’m grateful to the entire delegation, to my teammates,” he added. “They were always there for me, as always. They gave me a lot of strength to get through this, and that’s all.”
The three goals not only cemented Argentina’s victory against Algeria in the group stage, but they also made Messi the oldest player to score a hat trick at the World Cup and launched him alongside Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the top scorers ever at the tournament with 16 goals apiece.
But for the soccer legend—who helped lead his country to victory at the 2022 FIFA tournament—stats are not why he keeps playing.
As he noted, Brazil’s Ronaldo Nazario “was one of the greatest” and isn’t in first place, having sunk 15 goals throughout his own FIFA tenure. It’s why while Messi stressed the significance of being listed alongside Klose, “It’s a statistic and nothing more.”
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“While it’s an honor to be able to compete with all of them,” he said, “it doesn’t mean anything to me.”
That idea that stats and World Cup wins don’t define a player is shred by the Argentine’s peer Cristiano Ronaldo, who at 41 is appearing in his sixth World Cup for Portugal.
And while he’s hoping to help bring his country home its first World Cup, he told Piers Morgan in 2025 that the elusive prize “will not define if I’m one of the best of history.”
"If you ask me, 'Christian, is it a dream to win the World Cup?' No, it's not a dream," he added. "To win the World Cup, nothing will change my name in the history of football."
For more information on the international stars competing at this year’s FIFA World Cup, read on.
Eric Alonso/Getty Images
Lamine Yamal
Age: 18
World Cup Team: Spain
Current Soccer Club: FC Barcelona (Spain)
Position: Midfielder
Don't let Yamal's age fool you. In just two years since his debut, the Spaniard already has a UEFA European Football Championship under his belt. He was also the runner-up for the Ballon d'Or—also known as the "Golden Ball," an award recognizing the best soccer player of the year—in 2025.
CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images
Lionel Messi
Age: 38
World Cup Team: Argentina
Current Soccer Club: Inter Miami CF (United States)
Position: Forward
History has its eyes on Messi, who is the most decorated player in the world of soccer. Not only is he the defending World Cup champion, but the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is on the cusp of becoming the first player to win back-to-back World Cups as the captain of his national team.
Clicks Images/Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo
Age: 41
World Cup Team: Portugal
Current Soccer Club: Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia)
Position: Forward
There's a reason why Ronaldo is considered one of the greatest players of all time. After all, he's scored over 970 goals in his career so far and shows no signs of stopping. He scored at least 100 goals while playing with each of his former clubs—Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus—as well as over 130 goals with his national team.
Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images
Harry Kane
Age: 32
World Cup Team: England
Current Soccer Club: Bayern Munich (Germany)
Position: Forward
Known as one of the best strikers of his generation, Kane is serving as the captain of England's national team for the third consecutive World Cup. In fact, the London native scored the winning goal at the team's warm-up match against New Zealand on June 6.
Stefan Matzke - sampics/Getty Images
Jamal Musiala
Age: 23
World Cup Team: Germany
Current Soccer Club: Bayern Munich (Germany)
Position: Midfielder
Ever since kicking off his professional soccer career at age 16, Musiala has been nicknamed "Bambi" for his graceful movements on the pitch. He made his World Cup debut at the 2022 tournament.
Heuler Andrey/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Neymar
Age: 34
World Cup Team: Brazil
Current Soccer Club: Santos FC (Brazil)
Position: Forward
Born Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, the mononymous sensation is his home country's all-time leading scorer after surpassing Pelé's 52-year record in 2023. He's looking to lead his team back to World Cup glory for the first time since 2002.
Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images
Luka Modric
Age: 40
World Cup Team: Croatia
Current Soccer Club: AC Milan (Italy)
Position: Midfielder
Considered Croatia's greatest soccer player, Modric captained the nation's team to a third-place victory at the 2018 World Cup. He also holds the record for most caps for Croatia, playing for the country more than 190 times on the international stage.
Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Kylian Mbappe
Age: 27
World Cup Team: France
Current Soccer Club: Real Madrid (Spain)
Position: Forward
Mbappe took home the World Cup when he made his debut in 2018. And after coming close in 2022, with Argentina defeating France in a penalty shoot-out, the Frenchman is undoubtedly entering this year's competition with fire in his belly.
Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images
Vinicius Junior
Age: 25
World Cup Team: Brazil
Current Soccer Club: Real Madrid (Spain)
Position: Forward
Born Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior, the Brazilian soccer superstar was crowned The Best FIFA Men’s Player and runner-up to the Ballon d'Or in 2024. In his second World Cup appearance, Vini Jr. is hoping to end Brazil's 24-year wait for the trophy.
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