Barcelona legend Lionel Messi has provided insight into the reasoning behind his emotional goal celebration during Argentina's World Cup opener on Wednesday. The 38-year-old was spotted shedding a tear after scoring his first goal in the Albiceleste's match against Algeria.

Messi and his Argentina teammates were in action as they kicked off the defence of their World Cup title in a Group J encounter against Algeria. After recovering from a recent spell on the sidelines, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was afforded a starting berth for the reigning champions.

En route to an eventual 3-0 triumph, Messi proved himself the undisputed star of the show. The Inter Miami standout notched all three of his country's goals, rounding out his first-ever hat-trick on international football's grandest stage.

However, post-match, much of the chatter surrounded Messi's celebrations. After opening his account against Algeria, the veteran attacker showed a rare glimpse of his emotional side, shedding a tear whilst completely swept up in the moment.

Speaking to the media following the full-time whistle in Kansas, Messi was drawn on the reasoning behind his emotional display.

"I cried after the first goal, yes… but it was something completely unrelated to football," Messi explained. "I went through some difficult days, but I am grateful to the entire delegation and my teammates because they were always by my side, giving me a lot of strength."

The heartfelt admission from the footballing great highlighted the personal challenges he had been facing despite his continued excellence on the pitch. Despite his remarkable career achievements, Messi demonstrated that even the world's greatest players face personal struggles that can deeply affect them.

Messi's emotional moment served as a reminder of the human side of elite athletics, with his teammates and the entire Argentine delegation rallying around him during what he described as difficult days. His performance on the pitch, scoring a hat-trick to help Argentina begin their World Cup title defence with a convincing victory, further demonstrated his remarkable resilience and commitment to his national team.