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Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, a global football icon for the past two decades, will remain with the national team at the World Cup despite his father's serious health issues, according to local reports. The legendary five-time Ballon d'Or winner kicked off his 2026 World Cup campaign spectacularly, netting a memorable hat-trick against Algeria in the Gauchos' opening match. He was visibly emotional, shedding tears on the pitch after his first goal. Post-match, media outlets revealed that Messi's emotional reaction stemmed from his father's significantly deteriorating health. Shortly after, the family released an official statement confirming that Messi Sr. was unwell, though they provided no further details.
Despite the circumstances, Lionel Messi remains available to head coach Lionel Scaloni and continues to prepare for Argentina's next fixture against Austria on Monday evening at 10:00 PM Bulgarian time. As of now, there are no further details regarding the legendary number ten's plans should his father's condition worsen.
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