Seven Ballon d’Or winners, dozens of titles in the club and already winner of the Copa America, Lionel Messi won this Sunday with Argentina the last trophy he was missing, the most beautiful of all: the World Cup. What to become GOAT?
He relaunched it with a team whose usefulness we can question, but he relaunched it: at 35, Lionel Messi finally won the World Cup this Sunday with Argentina, dominating France in the final (3 -3, 4-2 tabs). After four Champions Leagues, ten league titles in La Liga, one in Ligue 1 or even a Copa America, the brilliant number 10 has won the 41st trophy, the most prestigious of his long career. To which, of course, we must add his seven Golden Balls.
Immediately after this final during which he scored a double, “GOAT” (The best of all time) have flourished on social networks about the For money. Something to revive, perhaps once and for all, the eternal debate: is Lionel Messi now the best player in history?
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Maradona equaled, Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed?
To his admirers, even his adorers, the answer has long been obvious. For others not. Before this World Cup, Messi was not considered by some of the Albiceleste faithful as the best player in the history of Argentina. Because before him there was “God”: Diego Maradona.
With the supreme title in his pocket, like Maradona in 1986, Lionel Messi ensures – at least – the same status as the former Napoli player in the country. And with considerable competition on a personal level, he’s also gaining significant leverage over his generational rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who probably missed his last chance with Portugal.
“You might think they say that Messi is the greatest in history because we are Argentines, coach Lionel Scaloni already launched on Tuesday evening, after qualifying for the final. But I think there is no doubt. I have the opportunity to train him and see him. It’s moving. Every time you look at it, it provokes something in its partners. Not just the Argentines. It’s an opportunity and a privilege.”
Because from the beginning of the World Cup, with Argentina’s surprising defeat against Saudi Arabia (2-1), until the end, Messi was successful in Qatar. Named player of the tournament, he scored seven goals and rattled the nets in the group stage, round of 16, quarterfinals, halftime and final. Never seen. Never made.
The greatest sportsman in history?
“We will never see a player like Messi again,” England international Declan Rice wrote after the final. And his compatriot James Maddison explained: “For those who know football, know that tonight’s result didn’t determine whether Messi is the best player of all time or not. But I’m so happy he won for people who thought was necessary. Now there is no more debate.”
The older one will undoubtedly be less categorical, and will obviously name the Brazilian Pelé, the only player with three world champions and author of more than 1,000 goals in his career (Messi has more than 800). A Pelé who has never played in a European club, where the level is very high. And where Messi has never stopped shining.
Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool player turned into an esteemed consultant from across the Channel, delivered his top 5 this Sunday evening. Messi is first there, ahead of Maradona, ahead of Pelé, Ronaldo, Zidane and the whole world. Very popular character in the United States, the Youtubeur-boxer Jake Paul has even widened the debate. “It’s hard to admit it as an American, but Messi is perhaps the greatest sportsman of all time, he wrote. He is the best non-penalty scorer in history, the best decisive passer in history. In a sport that has more players than any other.”
