'That's why he's the king' - Messi sets up third World Cup final
Four years ago it felt as if Lionel Messi's story was told. He had finally won the World Cup, aged 35, in what he said
Four years ago it felt as if Lionel Messi's story was told. He had finally won the World Cup, aged 35, in what he said was his last game in the tournament and - depending on your point of view - cemented his place as football's greatest ever player. Four years before that, aged 31, many - including those around him - felt he had played his final World Cup game and would end his career without winning it.
And here he is at 39, having helped take England to the cleaners and send Argentina to their second World Cup final in a row. Messi's two assists helped the South American side come from behind to win 2-1, taking him up to four assists at the 2026 World Cup - to go with his eight goals. The joint top scorer and the second highest assister in the whole show.
Argentina will play Spain, the country where Messi has played most of his football with Barcelona, in Sunday's final in New Jersey. "He's the best player in history, I don't know what else he would have to do to prove that. The majority of Spaniards love him," said his national team boss Lionel Scaloni. BBC pundit Micah Richards said: "They have Lionel Messi.
They have the 'GOAT'. The greatest of all time. "[It's about] moments. We thought it could have been Jude Bellingham or Harry Kane, but this is why he is the king."
The BriefWire