ATLANTA — Imagine where Argentina might be without Lionel Messi. Most likely, they would be on a return flight to Buenos Aires, with the coveted FIFA World Cup trophy headed elsewhere, specifically to FIFA’s New York headquarters at Trump Tower, awaiting its new recipient on July 19.
Thanks to the extraordinary talent of Messi, the most prized trophy in football remains in Argentina’s hands.
The discussion over who is football’s greatest of all time (GOAT) may never reach a definitive conclusion; legends like Pelé, Diego Maradona, and Cristiano Ronaldo each have their staunch admirers. Yet, this World Cup is underscoring Messi’s unparalleled status.
If you’re still in doubt, just ask the players from Egypt or Cape Verde, both of whom pushed Argentina to the brink in their thrilling 3-2 round-of-32 match in Miami last Friday.
Egypt seemed poised for a historic upset, leading 2-0 with just ten minutes left and threatening to knock out the defending champions. However, Messi had other plans. Despite having missed a penalty earlier in the match and not making much of an impact, he rose to the occasion when it mattered most, assisting Cristian Romero to score before netting the equalizer himself with five minutes remaining, marking his eighth goal of the tournament.
Once again, Messi delivered a critical performance for Argentina.
The Inter Miami forward has now scored in nine consecutive World Cup matches, setting a record and extending his lead as the all-time World Cup scorer with 21 goals—two more than France‘s Kylian Mbappé.
While Messi’s brilliance is undeniable, questions remain about the strength of Argentina as a team. Do they depend too heavily on Messi? Have they faced too much of an easy path to the quarterfinals? Who else can step up against tougher opponents to secure victory in their quest for a second consecutive World Cup title?
Ironically, these inquiries about Argentina mirror the concerns surrounding Portugal, Messi’s longtime rival, Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez have not been the lethal scorers they are expected to be. In fact, Martínez has netted just two goals in seven appearances for Argentina this year, while Álvarez has scored only once in seven matches.
To maintain their momentum, Argentina cannot solely rely on Messi’s magic. Regardless of his incredible abilities, the team needs to devise alternative strategies, especially after conceding five goals in matches against Jordan, Cape Verde, and Egypt. As they progress further into the tournament, tougher opponents will capitalize on these defensive lapses.
While Messi remains a phenomenal force on the pitch, a time will come when he can no longer actively carry the team. Past performances in the UEFA Champions League during his tenure with Paris Saint-Germain highlight that age does affect performance against elite competition. Argentina must ensure they have a solid backup plan moving forward, as relying solely on Messi can prove risky in high-stakes matches.