Lionel Messi celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday while continuing to make history at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Argentina captain has enjoyed a remarkable start to the tournament, scoring all five of his country’s goals as the defending champions secured victories in their opening two Group J matches.

Messi opened Argentina’s campaign in spectacular fashion with a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria. He then added another two goals in a 2-0 victory against Austria, helping Argentina book an early place in the knockout stages.

His latest scoring exploits saw him surpass former Germany striker Miroslav Klose’s long-standing World Cup record of 16 goals. Messi now stands alone as the leading scorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history with 18 goals across six tournaments.

The Argentine legend has featured in a record six World Cups — 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 — more than any other men’s player. He also holds the record for the most World Cup appearances, having played 32 matches on football’s biggest stage.

In addition to his goalscoring achievements, Messi has registered nine World Cup assists and remains the player with the most assists in knockout-stage matches. He is also the only footballer to have won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball award twice, claiming the honour in 2014 and 2022.

Beyond the World Cup, Messi’s career trophy haul is unmatched. He has won 45 major titles with Argentina, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, making him one of the most decorated players in football history.

His international honours include the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, the 2022 Finalissima, an Olympic gold medal in 2008 and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2005.

At club level, Messi won four UEFA Champions League titles, ten La Liga crowns and seven Copa del Rey trophies with Barcelona. He also lifted two Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain and added the Leagues Cup and Supporters’ Shield to his collection with Inter Miami.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner shows no signs of slowing down. He is expected to lead Argentina once again when they face Jordan in their final Group J match on June 28 at Dallas Stadium, as the reigning champions continue their quest for back-to-back World Cup titles.

Afghanistan has been ranked last among 194 countries in the KidsRights Index 2026, a global assessment that measures how well countries protect and promote children’s rights.

The annual index, published by the KidsRights Foundation in cooperation with Erasmus University Rotterdam, evaluates countries across key areas including the right to life, healthcare, education, protection, and the overall environment for children’s rights. The 2026 edition covers 194 countries worldwide.

According to the latest rankings, Afghanistan placed 194th out of 194 countries, remaining at the bottom of the global index. Afghan children continue to face significant challenges related to education, protection, healthcare, poverty, and humanitarian conditions.

The KidsRights Foundation said the 2026 report highlights growing threats to children’s wellbeing worldwide, including the impact of armed conflict, insecurity, and worsening social conditions. The report also warns that progress in advancing children’s rights is slowing or reversing in many parts of the world.

UNICEF estimates that 11.6 million children in Afghanistan will require humanitarian assistance in 2026, underscoring the scale of the challenges facing children across the country.

Afghanistan’s Center for Strategic Studies (CSS) and Qatar’s Center for International Policy Research (CIPR) have agreed to strengthen cooperation through joint research and academic initiatives following a virtual meeting between the two institutions.

According to a statement issued by CSS, the meeting focused on exploring institutional collaboration and opportunities for joint research on regional issues and policy-related topics.

Dr. Abdul Hai Qanit, Director General of CSS, emphasized the importance of cooperation between research institutions and highlighted the role of Track 1.5 diplomacy in supporting informed policymaking and fostering dialogue on regional challenges.

The two sides discussed a range of regional developments and agreed to expand cooperation through joint research projects, policy papers, expert exchanges, and broader academic networking.

The agreement is expected to enhance knowledge-sharing and strengthen research ties between the two institutions as they seek to contribute to policy discussions and regional understanding.