Read for 2 minutes18 Jun 2026 10:14 PM IST
Lionel Messi kept the match ball after scoring a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s World Cup opener and plans to have it signed by his teammates before adding it to his personal collection at his home near Barcelona, Argentine newspaper Clarin said.
Argentina kit crews retrieved the ball after the final whistle and Argentina Football Association president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia personally carried it out of the stadium shortly before midnight in Kansas City.
Messi’s wife Antonella Roccuzzo and sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro watched the match from the stands.
The next morning, the Argentine squad held a recovery-focused training session in Kansas City. Clarin reported that Messi was among a group of regular starters who remained on the field with the recovery staff after playing minutes against Algeria, along with Rodrigo de Paul, Cristian “Cutie” Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Lautaro Martinez and Thiago Almada.
Players who saw less action in the opener completed a more demanding workout that included short-side possession drills, pressing exercises and a game of foot-tennis.
That’s how Chiqui Tapia retired from the stadium of Kansas. pic.twitter.com/SjIMNtcTUY
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) 17 June 2026
With temperatures climbing above 30 degrees Celsius, some athletes used cooling vests and insulated recovery boots after training. The measure forms part of Argentina’s efforts to manage players’ workload and recovery during the tournament.
Clarin said the emphasis on recovery reflects coach Lionel Scaloni’s broader approach to camp, with the staff emphasizing rest and physical freshness between matches.
The team also had its second family day of the tournament the day after the game, in which players could leave the team hotel and spend the afternoon with relatives. Several families headed to a nearby lake to escape the heat, including Nico Tagliafico’s wife, Caro Calvagni and Enzo Fernandez’s wife and children.
Goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez spent the afternoon with his wife and children, while Alexis McAllister, Leandro Paredes and several other members of the team also took family photos throughout the day, Clarin reported.
Story continues below this ad
Argentina’s next match is on June 22 against Austria in Dallas.