Video: Lionel Messi’s Argentina teammates surprise him with gifts in the middle of the night | OneFootball

Barcelona and Argentina captain Lionel Messi celebrated his 34th birthday on Thursday.

Currently away on international duty with the Argentine national team at the Copa America 2021, the Barcelona talisman was surprised by his international teammates, who entered his room, singing Happy Birthday carrying a cake and bearing gifts.

Among those pictured in the celebrations were Messi’s close friend Sergio Aguero, who will be joining the six-time Ballon d’Or winner at Barcelona from the upcoming season. Other senior Argentina stars such as Nicolas Otamendi and Angel Di Maria were also present, as were Rodrigo De Paul, Giovani Lo Celso among others.

The past year has been quite an eventful one for Messi, and not always for positive reasons. The 34-year-old almost left Barcelona in 2020 after a disastrous end to the 2019/20 campaign. Having stayed put though, the 34-year-old was once again the Catalans’ best player, helping manager Ronald Koeman win the Copa del Rey in his debut season.

Messi’s contract with Barcelona runs out in less than a week. Despite all the speculations, it is understood that the Catalans’ skipper will be staying put at Camp Nou and is close to signing a new deal.

The focus, for now, though, will be on the national team as Messi looks to guide Argentina to the Copa America triumph and lift his first-ever international trophy with La Albiceleste.