local
Lionel Messi celebrates his 39th birthday with Argentina teammates during a joyful World Cup
By DÉBORA REY at KGNS — Sitewide
· June 25, 2026
· 2 min read
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Lionel Messi celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday during a World Cup that, at least for now, has brought him nothing but joy: Defending champion Argentina has already qualified for the knockout stage, and its captain has become the tournament’s career scoring leader.Messi ...
Key takeaway The exception was the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was played in November and December.
Why this matters in Laredo News
Laredo 's own soccer enthusiasts are likely keeping a close eye on Lionel Messi's World Cup performance, and his birthday celebration with Argentina teammates is a notable moment in the tournament. As a border city with strong cultural ties to Latin America, Laredo's community may have a particular affinity for Messi and the Argentine national team. The fact that Messi's birthday cake came from a Kansas City bakery owned by an Argentine pastry chef adds a interesting layer to the story, highlighting the connections between international communities and the power of food to bring people together. In Laredo, where soccer is a beloved sport, Messi's achievements and milestones are likely to generate excitement and discussion among local fans, who may be inspired by his dedication and passion for the game.
About this story
Original reporting by KGNS — Sitewide . Laredo News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KGNS — Sitewide . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 25, 2026 ·
Source: KGNS — Sitewide ·
Reading time: 2 min
Get more Laredo News stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering local and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? MEXICO CITY (AP) — Lionel Messi celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday during a World Cup that, at least for now, has brought him nothing but joy: Defending champion Argentina has already qualified for the knockout stage, and its captain has become the tournament’s career scoring leader.Messi ...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 25, 2026 by KGNS — Sitewide and curated for Laredo News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by DÉBORA REY at KGNS — Sitewide. To learn more about how Laredo News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from Laredo News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter