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Happy birthday Messi. Now put on your boots

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PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) Being a four-time world player of the year apparently doesn't mean you get special treatment from Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella on your birthday.

When asked how the team celebrated its superstar captain Lionel Messi's 27th birthday during the World Cup on Tuesday, Sabella just said ''we congratulated him last night after midnight.''

What, no cake? No gift?

When asked again whether the team did anything special for Messi, Sabella said, ''I didn't have time for anything more than a greeting.''

Argentina has already qualified for the knockout phase but its last group-stage match Wednesday against Nigeria will decide whether it places first or second in Group F.

Messi posted a Facebook photo of himself putting his boots on, saying his birthday wish was, not surprisingly, to win the World Cup.

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