When Lionel Messi's Argentina teammates surprised him for his birthday while he was sleeping ๐
Today, Messi turns 39 and is still balling on the biggest stage ๐๐
๐จ๐๏ธZlatan Ibrahimoviฤ on Lionel Messiโs World Cup hat-trick masterclass as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0:
๐ฃ๏ธ โLet me tell you somethingโฆ this is what happens when the greatest of all time plays football.โ
โMessi didnโt just have a good opening gameโฆ he arrived at the World Cup like he still owns the damn thing.โ
โPeople talk about age, about the end of an era, about pressure at 38 going on 39โฆ but he doesnโt feel any of that. He creates pressure for every defender in the tournament instead.โ
โAlgeria tried to sit deep, they tried to frustrate, they tried to competeโฆ but when Messi gets the ball anywhere near the box, the game is basically over.โ
โA hat-trick on the opening night of the World Cup? Thatโs not normalโฆ thatโs a statement. Thatโs a warning to every team left in this tournament.โ
โAnd this is why Argentina won so comfortably โ because when you have a player like him, you donโt need ten chances. You need one moment of magicโฆ and he gave them three.โ
โNow people will start talking againโฆ โIs he still the best player in the world?โ I donโt talk. I show. And tonight, Messi showed everyone.โ
โThis was not just three points for Argentinaโฆ this was a message to the entire World Cup. The king is still here.โ