Messi's Last Stand: At 39, One More Final to Define the Greatest Career in Soccer History
In the 85th minute tonight, with England a goal ahead and Argentina's World Cup hanging by a thread, Lionel Messi received the ball on the right touchline at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. He was 39 years old and playing in his fourth World Cup. He feinted, opened his body, and threaded a pass through four England defenders to Enzo Fernández. Goal. One minute later, he recovered a loose ball, drove inside, and fed a cross that Lautaro headed home. Two assists in 90 seconds. Argentina are in the World Cup Final.
This is who Messi is. This is what he does. In the moments when it is most impossible — when the team is behind, when the crowd is against them, when the logic of the game says the tournament is over — Messi produces something that no one else on earth can produce. He has done it his entire career. He is doing it now, at 39, at the end of everything, one more time.
The Numbers Are Absurd
Eight goals at this World Cup. Five assists — the most of any player in the tournament. Thirteen goal involvements across eight matches. The all-time World Cup goals record is Miroslav Klose's 16. Messi now has 14 across five tournaments. He is three goals behind the all-time record at the age of 39, in the tournament where he has been the primary creator rather than the primary finisher. The most goals and the most assists at the same World Cup, at 39 years old. These numbers do not belong in football. They belong in a different sport.
What Sunday Means
Messi has said he intends to retire from international football after this tournament. Sunday at MetLife Stadium is, in all probability, the last competitive match Lionel Messi will ever play. If Argentina win — if they beat Spain to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962 — Messi retires as the greatest player who has ever lived, by any measure anyone has ever used. If they lose, he retires as the greatest player who has ever lived who happened to be on the wrong side of one Final.
Either way, 82,500 people at MetLife Stadium on Sunday will watch one of the defining sporting moments of the 21st century. If you can be in that building, be in that building.