What happened: Lionel Messi turned 39 on Wednesday, with his Argentina teammates marking the occasion. The milestone arrives in the middle of Argentina's 2026 World Cup campaign, with the captain still anchoring the squad.

Why it matters: Messi remains central to Argentina's effort even as he reaches the latter stage of his career, and his form has carried over into this World Cup run. How long he can sustain that level shapes Argentina's ceiling for the rest of the tournament.

What to watch: Attention shifts back to Argentina's next World Cup fixture, where Messi is expected to feature.