To be crowned GOAT, Messi needs to win two Ballon d’Or awards, score highly in seven categories, and lead his team to glory. Cristiano Ronaldo, Johan Cruyff, and Ferenc Puskas also make the list. The GOAT Index also takes into account the difficulty of winning a league title, a World Cup, European Championship, or Copa America.
Messi’s extra-time goal against Iran was quintessential
It was Messi’s first World Cup goal in four years, and it was the quintessential goal of a World Cup final. The Argentina forward has four Ballon d’Or awards and 407 career goals for club and country. Before his extra-time winner against Iran, Messi had not scored in a World Cup match since 2006.
After a scoreless first half, Argentina were looking for a breakthrough when their spirited defense gave them a chance to win the game. But Messi stepped up to the plate and curled the ball into the net from just five yards from goal. Iran’s keeper Sergio Romero was beaten, but his incredible strike was enough to send Argentina through to the next round.
Argentina’s fans had been anticipating a slender victory against Iran, but they were wrong. After all, Messi was already short of full fitness. After the 2-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, Argentina hoped to repeat the feat against Iran. But the Argentines struggled to break down the Iranian defense. But despite the shaky performance, Messi scored the winning goal in the 91st minute to seal their qualification for the round of 16.
The goal against Iran was a perfect example of this. Messi’s extra-time goal against Iran was the quintessential World Cup goal, and it was the quintessential Messi goal. Despite the fact that he didn’t have an assist, his extra-time goal against Iran was an incredible display of patience. The Argentinian stayed calm, looked for openings and waited for that split second when defenders focused on him.
Although the result was ultimately the same for both Argentina and Iran, both teams still showed signs of improvement. The Argentines had a good chance to win, but failed to convert the opportunity. The Germans were unable to stop Argentina’s extra-time goal, and the game went to extra time. However, they had the chance to win the World Cup with a goal in extra time.
Messi’s leadership
Lionel Messi is the Barcelona star who has been praised for his leadership qualities but is not yet quite up to the same level as fellow superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese superstar has already won a World Cup and also bagged a hat-trick against Spain. He also scored a crucial winner against Morocco. However, Messi has not been able to make an impact in Russia, where he has failed to impress.
There are many ways in which Messi can lead by example, with a strong focus on discipline. This was evident in the recent qualifying match against Ecuador. Argentina needed to win to qualify for Russia. In the game against Ecuador, Messi’s team fell behind after 38 minutes, but he came back with a hat-trick to earn a 3-1 victory. It is also clear that Messi isn’t the type of leader who blasts his teammates on the pitch, and his example has led by example in numerous ways.
The Argentine captain has been the most vocal and inspirational player in the world for years, but he hasn’t made himself more vocal in the dressing room. His performance has earned him a place in the pantheon of football’s greatest players. But in order to become that leader, Messi must first prove he is able to inspire the players to follow him. If he fails to do this, the team will never win.
Argentina’s performance in South Africa 2010 was impressive, as he was awarded the first of his five Ballons d’Or. It was also his first World Cup and he was able to impress his fans. The legendary Diego Maradona was present in the Argentina dugout. The legendary soccer player had served as fitness coach between 1983 and 1994. Signorini, who was part of Maradona’s coaching staff during the tournament, described their relationship as that of a professor and a student. Maradona and Messi may have been close, but their similarities did not extend beyond the dressing room.
In the same way, the 2022 World Cup could be a jubilee for Messi. At 41, he will be 41 years old by the time of the next World Cup. But even with the possibility of retirement, he is still an important part of the team. The 2022 World Cup is his fifth appearance. And he knows it will be his last shot at glory. In the meantime, he is an absolute must-have.
His ability to bring his team together
Compared to the greats of the past, Messi’s talent is somewhat limited, compared with the greats of the present. He’s been a professional athlete since his early adolescence, unlike Maradona and Cruyff, who grew up in Calvinist countries and were products of their respective cultures. Messi’s natural talent was also nurtured by a football academy and his family.
At the same time, Messi’s ability to bring his team members together is matched by Ronaldo’s. The two are rivals at club level, and both went out on the same day in the 2018 World Cup final. The 2026 World Cup could be the last time these two will compete for the same trophy. Both have stated that they plan to play football well beyond the age of 40.
His selfishness
Despite the hype surrounding him, Messi has had some drab performances at this World Cup. Though he had been tipped to lift the trophy, Messi was double and triple-teamed against Belgium. Belgium coach Johan Cruyff has complained of Messi’s over-reliance on his Dutch teammate Arjen Robben. The referee, Cuneyt Cakir, is a Turk, and that he is not an American.
As for the match against Iran, the Argentine’s extra-time winner was a classic Messi goal. He got the ball on the right side of the field, held it for a few seconds, broke into the center of the field, and scored in heavy traffic without an assist. Sometimes he is accused of being selfish, but his unselfishness is apparent and his ability to win the ball back makes him stand out from his rivals.
The GOAT list will recognize two Ballon d’Or awards and high scores in seven categories, among other things. Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, and Ferenc Puskas also make the cut. Moreover, the GOAT Index takes into consideration the difficulty of winning a league title, European Championships, World Cups, and Copa Americas. The list will be undoubtedly more impressive if Messi is able to beat Neymar and his team and win the trophy.
Argentina’s Copa America win puts an end to the GOAT debate. It may have been surprising to see Messi lose his place in the final, but Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Brazil proves the GOAT debate has moved beyond individuals. Messi played a key role in Argentina’s win, and his presence was crucial to the team’s success.
After 2006, there was a lot of criticism of Messi as a young, inexperienced player. Then in 2010, he was tagged as “not experienced enough”. This increased even further in 2014 when he was subbed for Argentina’s final. With all of this scrutiny, the real question is: Why does Messi deserve a World Cup? The world has witnessed some of the greatest soccer players in history, including Diego Maradona and Mario Kempes, but neither was as talented as Messi is. It’s time to win the World Cup.
Lionel Messi
Argentina striker Hernan Crespo believes Lionel Messi deserves a World Championship. His incredible achievements in international competitions have prompted many to consider him an all-time great, equal to Pele and Diego Maradona. Although he has won 32 football titles and a record five Ballon d’Ors, he is still yet to win the World Cup. Here are a few reasons why he deserves a World Cup.
Messi’s trophy and juicy narrative have elevated him to a position of prestige not enjoyed by many of the other contenders. This, of course, has led to some criticism of the award. In a way, it has become a lifetime achievement award, and is therefore losing its clout. And it’s not just the trophy that is in question here. Messi’s trophy, after all, was one of the most significant in international football.
As for his personal life, Messi is in a relationship with Antonela Roccuzzo, a Rosario native and cousin to his childhood friend Lucas Scaglia. While their relationship has been mostly private, it was made public in August 2014, the day of the Barcelona-Espanyol derby. Messi’s career has also been marked by a number of charity initiatives, and he has partnered with several organizations to support various causes.
The controversy surrounding the award of the Golden Boot is another reason for the controversy over Messi’s world-class performance. His three goals in a group match against Bolivia were controversial, as the referee missed an obvious soft foul. However, the result did not change that fact, as Messi had scored two goals against the South American side in the dead rubber match. Messi’s infamous sluggishness has even been blamed on the team’s lack of preparation for the World Cup.
His relationship with Diego Maradona
In Argentina, a football legend is not the same as a regular man. Diego Maradona, one of Argentina’s greatest players, is celebrated by both his fans and his detractors. His greatness in Argentina was first established before he left for Europe. Despite these demons, Maradona was widely popular and his greatness was tempered by his plight. Unlike Messi, Diego Maradona’s fame came with a price: he was poor, outrageous and anarchic. He made it big before he even left home, but his glory was tempered by demons. Messi, however, is a normal Argentine.
A new video uploaded by Juan Pablo Varsky, Argentina’s best journalist, shows the Argentine legend’s relationship with Messi. The two were idolized by their supporters, and the Argentine National Football Association (ANA) did not deserve Messi. But the former Argentine manager and Barcelona captain has never hidden his love for his protege. The pair even shared the same ego, which made the relationship between them all the more interesting.
The Argentine ace was born into extreme poverty. He was raised in a poor neighborhood and witnessed the 1976 Argentine coup d’etat and martial law. Argentina’s tame exit in the World Cup was further compounded by the taint of the Argentine people. But the nation found its way back to glory, thanks to the legendary Argentine. Maradona was the inspiration behind Argentina’s triumph in the Uefa Cup and the 1986 World Cup.
The Argentine fans were largely supportive, despite their lackluster performances. The fans bowed to Messi at corner kicks and during the World Cup. The Argentines also were taunted by the Brazilians, who claimed that Pele scored 1,000 goals and Maradona put cocaine up his nose. It is not a question of whether Messi deserves a World Cup, but why people still think that he deserves a World Cup.
His impact on Argentina’s team during this year’s Copa America
Lionel Messi has improved Argentina’s chances of winning the Copa America, which will be held in July. Despite the defeat to Chile in the Copa final, Messi has scored four goals, and has won the Best Player Award. He has helped Argentina come so close to winning a major tournament since his debut in 2005. In 2014, they reached the World Cup final.
Angel Di Maria was a thorn in the side as his injury prevented him from playing in the final. However, in the quarterfinal against Brazil, he scored twice and provided two assists. He also scored a superb free-kick goal. Argentina’s performance in the final was a far cry from its shaky start in the tournament. The win extends Argentina’s unbeaten run to 14 matches.
Lionel Messi is a talisman in the middle of the park. He led his country to the World Cup final in 2014 but fell short to Germany. Argentina will win its first major title since 1993 and Messi will be able to win it again. His teammates, however, will be unable to stop him. Despite the loss, Argentina will remain hopeful of capturing the trophy once again.
Aside from a goal or two, Messi’s influence on the Argentina team was much greater than his numbers. His presence lifted the entire team and was a hero for many of his teammates. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez gave him an award in recognition of his outstanding performances. Messi also showed a great appetite for battle even when things did not go his way.
His contribution to his country’s treble-winning team
The Argentina talisman led the team to the 2014 World Cup final and won the golden ball. However, he finished runner-up in the Ballon d’Or voting. Is Messi’s contribution to his country’s treble-winning team enough to warrant a World Cup? Not quite. Let’s examine his role in that World Cup triumph.
Argentina’s team’s treble-winning success came after Messi’s first World Cup appearance, against the Netherlands. But the treble-winning team was unbalanced because of an injury to winger Abondanzieri. Ayala, a smaller, but larger midfielder, was brought on with six minutes to play against Mexico. He scored on his World Cup debut but the goal was disallowed. Argentina had to settle for a penalty shoot-out to reach the semi-finals.
While Messi has been prolific in the past, he has become more generous on the pitch. He now looks to finish plays by dribbling opponents and creating space. He is a world-class teammate who consistently creates chances for his teammates. Ultimately, he has become the most influential player in the league. Messi’s contribution to his country’s treble-winning team deserves a World Cup.
Despite his recent poor performances, Messi has continued to be an integral part of Argentina’s success. He scored four goals in 18 qualifying matches and assisted on another three goals. He also scored in the 2-1 win against Boznia and Herzegovina. Argentina’s victory over Iran was particularly bitter for neutral fans. In the round of 16, Messi’s penalty won the game against the Netherlands.
While a ballon is awarded to the best player of the year, Messi is a standout in the Ballon d’Or race. The winner receives a larger weight in the Ballon d’Or than those who haven’t performed well in the tournament. The Ballon d’Or award went to Cristiano Ronaldo in 2002 and Fabio Cannavaro in 2006. Despite his lacklustre performance in South Africa, he is the most valuable player of the World Cup.
His career stats
Lionel Messi’s stats are staggering. Over the course of his career, Messi has scored over 750 goals for club and country. His 733 La Liga goals are the most by any player. He has assisted on over a quarter of all La Liga goals, and his 83.2 touches per game are a World Cup record. Despite these statistics, people still believe that Messi deserves a World Cup despite his mediocre performance last year.
In a World Cup year, Messi could be the difference between Argentina winning the tournament or losing it. With six Ballon d’Ors, Messi is the top goalscorer in La Liga. In fact, he won the Pichichi Trophy for an unprecedented eighth time, eclipsing the record set by French legend Jean-Pierre Papin. He is also a classic number 10 and has played in the most prestigious club competitions.
While Messi has never won a World Cup, he is far ahead of his teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in the statistics department. Ronaldo, who has won eleven of the last 13 ‘Pichichi’ awards, has more UCL trophies than Messi, while he won his first Champions League title in 2006. And both Ronaldo and Messi have won 34 trophies during their respective careers at Barcelona.
Messi’s stats are impressive. Both players have won at least one major league in Europe, but Messi has a slight edge in age. His career statistics are overwhelmingly better than Ronaldo’s, and he has won more cups than Ronaldo. But while Cristiano Ronaldo has more La Liga titles, Messi has four Champions League crowns. And he has won international gold on two occasions.
