Argentina skipper Lionel Messi didn’t only make history on the field of play when he won the FIFA World Cup, but also off the field of play.

Messi brought smiles to many Argentines and football fans all over the world when he lifted the trophy after close to 30 years last weekend.

The Paris St. Germain star also reached a milestone when it comes to social media platforms that are owned by Meta as he received a congratulatory message from CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Part of Meta are social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, CEO Zuckerberg announced that 25 million messages were recorded on WhatsApp per second during the finals of the World Cup.

“Leo Messi’s World Cup post is now the most liked in Instagram history. WhatsApp also reached a record 25 million messages per second during the final,” he said.

As he boasts around 405 million followers on his Instagram account, Messi celebrated the victory as he bagged the player of the tournament award and his team won the World Cup in Qatar.

In a post that got fans gushing over it, the new world champion wrote in his Spanish home language and thanked his followers.

“From Grandoli to the Qatar World Cup took almost 30 years. It was close to three decades when the ball gave me many joys and also some sorrows. I always dreamed of being a World Champion and I didn’t want to stop trying, even knowing that maybe I would never give up,” he wrote.

“This Cup we got is also from all those who did not make it in the previous World Cups we played, like in 2014 in Brazil, where they all deserved it for how they fought until the same final, worked hard, and wanted it as much as I did… And we deserved it even in that damn ending.”

“It’s also from Diego who encouraged us from heaven. And of all those who spent the time always benching the National Team without looking so much at the result but the desire we always put into it, also when things didn’t go as we wanted.”

“And of course, it’s from all this beautiful group that was formed and of the technical team and all the people of the national team who, being anonymous, work day and night to make it easier for us.”

“Many times, failure is part of the journey and learning and without disappointments, it is impossible for success to come.

“Thank you very much from my heart! Let’s go Argentina!!!”

After a thrilling 3-3 draw in the final against France, the Albiceleste claimed the 4-3 win via penalties.

Main Image: Lionel Messi/The Times