Case closed. Ballgame. Mic drop. Describe it any way you want, but the fact is clear; Lionel Messi is the undisputed GOAT of soccer.
He was on the shortlist with Pele and Cristiano Ronaldo at the start of the World Cup, but there’s no arguing the point now. Messi is the man.
The only thing missing in his 20-year run of greatness was a World Cup championship, and he secured it in the greatest World Cup championship game of all time, the thriller that Argentina won over France in a penalty kick shoot-out.
Messi scored the first goal of the game, nailed the first penalty kick for Argentina in the PK shootout, and was dominant, great, and incredible for every minute he was on the field. Leading and inspiring his team to the epic victory.
Twitter lit up with experts and fans declaring what the pecking order of greatness should be, and you can’t make a more compelling case than the one Messi has. The win even vaulted Messi above national hero Diego Maradona who led Argentina to their previous World Cup Title.
Messi was awarded the Golden Ball, which means he was the MVP of the World Cup, the second time he’s done it, and he’s the only player to win that award twice.
His heroics triggered an epic celebration throughout Argentina. Fans flooded the Obelisk in central Buenos Aires as a carnival atmosphere erupted, with hundreds of thousands of fans banging on drums, buckets, and cans.
Messi’s list of accomplishments over the past two decades would fill a book thicker than War and Peace. He’s won seven Ballon d’Or awards, the most for any football player, the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year and 2019 Best FIFA Men’s Player.
And if any Ronaldo fans want to come at you saying the Brazilian is more popular on Instagram, Messi has eclipsed him there as well. After the championship game, Messi posted photos on IG of his team celebrating the win, along with a long and heartfelt message, and the world responded. It received over 45 million likes!
It shatters the old record Ronaldo had when he posted a photo of him and Messi playing chess for a Louis Vuitton ad. That post got 41 million likes.
It’s too bad he hasn’t been well compensated for all his efforts. Oh, wait, he has. Forbes estimates he’s earned $1.15 billion on and off the field in his career.
He’s earned it.
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