Lionel Messi is eternal and his Argentina unsinkable. Led 1-0 by England on Wednesday evening in Miami, in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup, the Albiceleste showed heart and character to turn the situation around at the end of the match (1-2). Also, she was able to count on a sparkling Lionel Messi, decisive passer on Enzo Fernandez’s equalizer and the Lautaro Martinez goal.
At the age of 39 and after having won everything during his career, Lionel Messi continues to amaze the football world. World Cup top scorer with 8 goals, the Inter Miami striker also delivered 4 assists. Stratospheric statistics which even today make the Argentine icon one of the favorites for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Furthermore, his exceptional performances during this World Cup put an end to the famous debate on who is the “Goat” between him and Cristiano Ronaldo. It must be said that the comparison is brutal for the Portuguese star, who will never win the World Cup, while Messi is more than ever in the running to win a second one.
Messi’s statistic humiliating for Ronaldo
And a telling statistic highlights the ascendancy taken by “La Pulga” over its eternal rival. During this semi-final against the English, the eight-time Ballon d’Or completed 9 dribbles. This is more than CR7 during his last four World Cups (8 successful dribbles), reports Sofascore. End of the debate?
“ It’s incredible everything we’ve been through, Messi said after the meeting. It was just a football match but from the start, from entering the field, from the anthem, we felt special sensations. The group felt it, we knew it wasn’t another victory. The Argentine people wanted it, so did we. It was a special match against England, we couldn’t lose. Argentinians are like that, we always ask for more. If we had lost, people would have said anything so we didn’t give them the chance. »
