Lionel Messi celebrates 39th birthday in the gym as Argentina star prepares for Jordan showdown | Watch

Star forward Lionel Messi celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday, two days after scoring a brace in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria in Dallas in the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

The Barcelona icon, who represents Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, is off to a sensational start in the tournament, having fired a hat-trick in the defending champions' opening fixture against Algeria in Kansas City before his brace against Austria.

Messi celebrates birthday by sweating it out in the gym

Despite it being a special day, Messi remained focused on the task at hand – helping Argentina become only the third team in football history to win back-to-back World Cups.

The birthday celebrations did not translate to a day off for the veteran superstar, who was seen sweating it out in the gym, preparing for Saturday's face-off against Jordan in Dallas.

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It's not the first time Messi's celebrated a birthday in the middle of a FIFA World Cup. His birthday, after all, falls during what is considered the off-season in club football, a period spanning the months of June and July during which major international events such as the World Cup and the UEFA Euro are staged.

Messi is currently making his sixth appearance at the World Cup, and has celebrated his birthday with his Argentine teammates each time except in the 2022 edition in Qatar – which had taken place during the months of November and December.

He had also received a late-night surprise from fellow members of 'La Albiceleste' during the 2021 Copa America in Brazil, with his teammates entering his room while he was asleep with a candle-lit cake and gifts. Argentina would go on to win their 15th continental title that year, beating arch-rivals Brazil in the final.