arts
Lionel Messi celebrates his 39th birthday with Argentina teammates during a joyful World Cup
By Kevin Boulandier at WSVN 7 News
· June 24, 2026
· 2 min read
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Lionel Messi celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday during a World Cup that, at least for now, has brought him nothing but joy: Defending champion Argentina has already qualified for the knockout stage, and its captain has become the tournament’s career scoring leader. Messi ma
Key takeaway The exception was the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was played in November and December.
Why this matters in The Miami
As Lionel Messi celebrates his 39th birthday, Miami 's large Argentine community is likely taking notice, given the soccer star's connection to the city as the captain of Inter Miami. His achievements on the field, including becoming the tournament's career scoring leader, are a source of pride for local fans who follow his career. The fact that a Kansas City bakery owned by an Argentine pastry chef was chosen to provide his birthday cake also highlights the strong Latin American ties in the region, which are particularly evident in Miami's vibrant neighborhoods like Little Havana. As Messi continues to make headlines in the World Cup, his local fans will be watching closely, eager to see how his team performs in the knockout stage. With a significant Argentine population in Miami, the city's enthusiasm for the World Cup and Messi's success is likely to be palpable, especially in areas with strong Latin American roots.
About this story
Original reporting by WSVN 7 News . The Miami surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSVN 7 News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: arts ·
Published: June 24, 2026 ·
Source: WSVN 7 News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? MEXICO CITY (AP) — Lionel Messi celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday during a World Cup that, at least for now, has brought him nothing but joy: Defending champion Argentina has already qualified for the knockout stage, and its captain has become the tournament’s career scoring leader. Messi ma
When was this published? This article was first published on June 24, 2026 by WSVN 7 News and curated for The Miami readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Kevin Boulandier at WSVN 7 News. To learn more about how The Miami selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more arts coverage from The Miami, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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