The Argentine national team players surprised star Lionel Messi by celebrating his 34th birthday at the national team's camp during the "Copa América" tournament. A video clip showed the players entering the room where Messi was, beginning to sing songs in celebration of the star of both the national team and Spanish club Barcelona. The players presented their gifts to Messi, some of which were quite unusual, including a bowl of water, seemingly referencing Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo's remarks about drinking water instead of soft drinks during a press conference at the "Euro 2020", according to the Spanish newspaper "AS."
Messi, who has been awarded the title of World Player of the Year six times, is seeking to break the "curse" that has followed him with his national team in winning a major championship during his participation in the "Copa América." In his first match against Chile, "the Flea" managed to score a remarkable goal from a direct free kick, while he provided an assist for his teammate Guido Rodríguez in the second match against Uruguay.
Argentine head coach Lionel Scaloni stated that "the current generation of Argentina must take advantage of Messi's presence to try and win a title that has eluded them since the 1990s. We have spent a long time without winning trophies, Argentina needs and deserves a title, and it's time for Messi to become the king of football."
In recent years, "Copa América" has become a significant obstacle for Messi, especially after coming close to winning it in 2015 and 2016, only to be denied by penalties against Chile in both editions.
Demands from football fans for Messi to achieve an international title with his national team have increased, aiming to join the club of great international legends who preceded him. The coming days may be decisive for Messi, as he likely faces the penultimate big tournament in his career before the 2022 World Cup scheduled in Qatar next year.
Argentina's biggest hurdle in the tournament remains the host nation, Brazil, which boasts a star-studded team led by Neymar, who is also seeking his first "Copa América" title. Football fans hope for a historic final between the two soccer powerhouses on July 11, in which one of the former Barcelona teammates, Messi or Neymar, will claim the title.
