Is Lionel Messi the GOAT? How he is rewriting soccer historical past on the World Cup

Lionel Messi has added one other chapter to his extraordinary profession, turning into the FIFA World Cup’s all-time main goalscorer whereas proving, at 38, that he stays considered one of soccer’s greats.

The Argentine captain adopted up his hat-trick in opposition to Algeria final week with a brace in opposition to Austria on Tuesday morning (AEST), taking his World Cup tally to 18 targets. That moved him two away from the earlier males’s report of 16, which he had shared with Germany’s Miroslav Klose.

“Past something, I am so blissful for the win,” Messi stated after the match.

“It was large, powerful and troublesome. It might permit us to be relaxed to what’s forward. All matches on this World Cup are very even, very intense. I am having fun with this second and looking out ahead to having fun with with my teammates.”

It’s one other outstanding achievement in a profession that has produced eight Ballons d’Or and 46 trophies, together with 4 Champions League titles and the 2022 World Cup.

He additionally holds the report for probably the most World Cup appearances with 28 and have become the primary participant to play in six World Cups.

If Messi scores in opposition to Jordan on Sunday, he’ll turn out to be the primary participant to attain in seven consecutive World Cup matches. He shares the present report of six straight video games with France’s Simply Fontaine in 1958 and Brazil’s Jairzinho in 1970.

With Argentina anticipated to make one other deep run in its title defence, Messi is among the many favourites for the Golden Boot — awarded to the match’s high goalscorer — a prize he has by no means gained.

It might be a powerful feat given he celebrates his thirty ninth birthday on Wednesday. His 5 targets in two matches depart him one forward of Norway’s Erling Haaland and France’s Kylian Mbappé, who’re each greater than a decade youthful.

Dr Steve Georgakis, a senior lecturer in sport on the College of Sydney, stated Messi’s affect on soccer was unmatched, arguing no different participant had had a higher impression on the fashionable sport.

“Non-Argentinian nations venerate this man, this participant, greater than their very own gamers,” he instructed SBS Information.

“It is fairly extraordinary that now we have a scenario the place the youth of the world see Messi as being their participant.”

Whether or not Messi is the best footballer of all time, or the GOAT because it’s generally referred to, stays a matter of opinion.

Georgakis offers that honour to Diego Maradona however believes Messi’s “globalised phenomena” and longevity meant no different participant has had a higher impression upon the game.

German striker Miroslav Klose, who beforehand held the report for high scorer, described Messi because the GOAT after his Argentina efficiency.

Talking on SBS Sport, former Socceroo Harry Kewell stated Messi had settled any arguments as as to whether he was the best.

“I’m baffled how he’s bought 5 targets already within the match,” Kewell stated.

“Targets within the World Cup are so uncommon and particular, and he’s already bought 5. It’s superb, and credit score the place credit score’s due.

“I do know the controversy about the most effective gamers and who’s the best, however I simply don’t assume you may argue in opposition to it anymore [that Messi is the GOAT].”

So how has Messi, now taking part in in his sixth World Cup, continued to carry out on soccer’s greatest stage? And the place does he rank alongside Pelé, Maradona and long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo?

‘He is nonetheless bought it’

Georgakis stated Messi’s longevity got here right down to a number of components, together with avoiding critical damage, benefiting from advances in sports activities science and altering perceptions about how lengthy gamers can compete at an elite stage.

“That quickness off the mark, the speedy toes, he is nonetheless bought it,” he instructed SBS Information.

“Fairly extraordinary at that age. That second aim that he scored [against Austria], it was like seeing a 21-year-old Olympic sprinter, the whole lot was so fast.”

Evaluating Messi with Ronaldo, now 41, Georgakis stated the Argentine benefited from taking part in on one of many world’s strongest nationwide groups, which created extra scoring alternatives. Argentina are the very best ranked on the planet, eight locations above Ronaldo’s Portugal.

He added that each gamers had largely averted critical damage all through their 30s, a key consider extending their careers.

“When you get a critical damage in your 30s, it could possibly imply the tip of their profession,” he stated.

Georgakis stated Ronaldo, who seemed lacklustre in Portugal’s shock draw in opposition to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, had now reached the purpose the place age had inevitably caught up with him.

“Sadly for Ronaldo, he is simply reached that time, like that, there comes a time the place as soon as your physique goes on you, it is gone on you,” he stated.

Advances in sports activities science, significantly vitamin, conditioning and restoration, have additionally helped elite footballers prolong their careers effectively into their late 30s.

The BBC, citing FIFA knowledge and analysis by Dr Joshua C Fjetsul from the College of Oslo, reported the variety of gamers aged 35 or older at World Cups had risen from simply 10 in 1954 to 72 in 2026.

Gamers have additionally turn out to be taller, quicker and leaner. The typical World Cup participant was 181.5cm tall in 2023, up from 177.1cm in 1973.

French participant Olivier Giroud was a part of the squad that gained the 2018 World Cup and remains to be taking part in in France’s Ligue 1 at age 39. He instructed BBC Sport that an older participant’s perception in themselves was extra necessary than the rest.

“It is clear simply how passionate Messi nonetheless is for soccer and you may inform it is in his DNA to at all times be a competitor, and to try to outdo himself greater than anybody else,” he stated.

“Enjoying at a excessive stage at our age, you need to pay shut consideration to your life hygiene, the way you sleep, your weight loss program, and caring for your physique, as a result of that is the factor you depend on for work.

“The important thing factor remains to be having the will, the motivation, the fervour, to maintain going.”

You’ll be able to watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ reside, free and unique on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.

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