What happened: Lionel Messi expressed deep gratitude to his teammates, saying he is "very happy to compete alongside them." He described the squad as "a very beautiful, very united group" and said the players are his friends, adding that hearing their affectionate words makes him happy.

Why it matters: The comments underline the chemistry around the 39-year-old as he chases another title deep into the tournament. It is a running theme: Messi credited his support system after an emotional World Cup performance last month, saying his teammates' extra effort is what keeps him competing at this stage of his career.

What to watch: Watch whether that cohesion keeps translating on the pitch as the squad prepares for its next World Cup match, with Messi's minutes and role the storyline to track.