Since earning his first cap for his country, the genius No10 has regularly blown out his candles in the Argentina camp. The talisman’s shifting status can be tracked through these milestone occasions.Lionel Messi will celebrate his 39th birthday on Wednesday against the backdrop of the FIFA World Cup 2026. This is nothing new for the age-defying ace, who has grown accustomed to cutting a blue-and-white cake at the Argentina training base, surrounded by admiring team-mates but unable to fully let his hair down given the pressure-cooker environment of a major tournament.The long-serving maestro has been on international duty for 13 of his last 22 birthdays. For many of those years, these celebrations came against a backdrop of chatter about Messi perhaps not showing his brilliant best when it mattered most and failing to translate his Barcelona form to the pinnacle of the international game.However, the star stayed the course and, over time, those noises faded away in the face of his extraordinary exploits and unflagging – albeit often understated – effort.Now, with his fifth decade approaching, Messi remains his nation’s main man and the toast of the town. Having amassed five goals in his side’s first two matches at this year’s global showpiece, the veteran not only tops the 2026 scoring charts but has also moved out ahead as the competition’s all-time leading marksman.While he has a knack for making football look like a piece of cake, Messi’s success is underpinned by his fierce work ethic and competitiveness. The Rosario-born superstar has had many happy returns while representing his beloved country, together with some challenges.It all started at the 2005 edition of the FIFA World Youth Championship (now known as the FIFA U-20 World Cup™️), where the fresh-faced teenager fired Argentina to the title and claimed the adidas Golden Shoe and Golden Ball just over a week after turning 18.Back then, Messi was one of the youngest members of that triumphant squad. If this once-in-a-generation genius is to make his birthday wishes of global glory come true this time round, however, it will very much be in the role of an elder statesman. Indeed, the vast majority of the players on the current roster likely grew up with posters of him plastered across their bedroom walls. The only exception is his peer and pal Nicolas Otamendi, who has been a fixture in the Argentina picture for almost as long as Messi and experienced many of the same trials and tribulations prior to the current glittering spell.The younger cohort of diehard admirers can barely believe their luck at getting to play with their idol."Words can’t do him justice: he’s a joy to watch and we have to savour him," gushed centre-back Lisandro Martinez in the wake of the 2-0 victory over Austria. "There’s no point comparing him to anyone else because he’s in a league of his own. I’m so thrilled that he’s here with us and that he’s Argentinian."Messi has been lighting up the World Cup since 2006, when he looked anything but out of his depth as part of one of the most star-studded La Albiceleste squads of all time. As Maxi Rodriguez put it in an interview with FIFA: “We knew he was something special. We couldn’t believe the things he’d pull off: we were blown away by everything he did, and especially his ability on the ball and the way he could run with it at pace.”However, that would prove to be the first in a series of ultimately frustrating international campaigns for Messi. By that time, the prodigy had already burst on to the scene at Barcelona and established himself as Ronaldinho’s heir apparent, yet he would be left kicking his heels on the bench during the quarter-final loss to Germany just days after reaching the age of 19.The following year, Messi entered his third decade in the build-up to the Copa America, at which he would play a key role, only for his side to succumb to old foes Brazil in the final.Similarly, the silky schemer’s 23rd birthday fell midway through the 2010 World Cup. On cloud nine due to the legendary Diego Maradona’s presence in the dugout, he and his team-mates were brought down to earth with a thud when another quarter-final exit ensued. Meanwhile, the 2011 instalment of the continental showpiece on home soil – where he turned 24 during the training camp ahead of the big kick-off – left Messi at one of his lowest ebbs, with some even calling into question his commitment to the Argentinian cause.In a nutshell, like Messi’s overall journey, this tale of pre- and mid-tournament birthdays – which also includes the 2014 and 2018 World Cups and the 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024 instalments of the Copa America – has been marked by ups and downs. These milestone occasions have played out against shifting scenery of training camps, hotels, press conferences, buses and planes. The latest chapter will come at the team hotel in Kansas City amid an atmosphere of ambition, optimism and camaraderie.“These are special moments for all of us; each and every member of the group feels that way,” the Argentina skipper said after the Austria match. “We enjoy playing together, competing and giving the fans something to shout about. We’ll look to carry on in the same vein and keep this momentum going. This year doesn’t feel any different to me. I just love playing football, and I’m trying to keep doing my thing.”Back in 2006, La Albiceleste’s experienced campaigners used to heap plaudits on Messi in hushed tones between themselves, marvelling at his aptitude for riding even the most thunderous tackles and at how hard it was to get the ball off him. Two decades on, the frontman’s team-mates are equally bowled over, the only difference being that their praise is proclaimed from the proverbial rooftops.“There isn’t much more to say: we just try to enjoy every day we have with him," said Julian Alvarez. "These moments are truly magical.   Alexis Mac Allister added: “There are no words to describe what he does. I’ve obviously been watching him since I was a kid, so it’s a dream come true to play with him. He’s simply incredible. His ability to react to things as they happen, in the heat of the moment, is second to none. I’m delighted that he’s enjoying himself and in the goalscoring groove.” For Scaloni’s part, when quizzed about his wish for his captain’s birthday, the tactician’s response was short and sweet: “I just want him to be happy.”Judging by the evidence of the last couple of weeks, Messi is certainly feeling comfortable in his own skin – and could be in the form to fire his nation to another World Cup crown./FIFA