Lionel Messi is 38 years old and still scoring like he’s 25. Two games into what is almost certainly his final World Cup, the Argentina captain has five goals. That includes a hat trick against Algeria followed by a brace against Austria, a team that defended him well for long stretches and still couldn’t keep him off the scoreboard.
So the GOAT question. Again. Because it never actually goes away.
Appearing on FS1’s First Things First, former MLS midfielder Dax McCarty put it about as bluntly as you can. McCarty said Messi settled the greatest of all time debate years ago, back when he led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar. What we’re seeing now, he argued, is just the finishing touch.
“He put the GOAT debate to rest years ago. This is just the cherry on top for the greatest player that’s ever lived,” McCarty said. “If you want to be considered the greatest of all time, you have to win the World Cup. He did that in 2022 and he has only gotten better with age.”
What’s different about this version of Messi
McCarty also made a point about how Messi has changed as a player. He’s not covering as much ground as he used to. He’s not dribbling through four defenders every single possession. But his efficiency in the final third? McCarty called it better than ever.
“He’s a different player now, but I’d argue he’s more efficient than he’s ever been in the final third, as evidenced by this absolutely fantastic performance we’ve seen out of him in Argentina for these first two games,” McCarty said. “His efficiency, his danger, the way that Austria is a very good team, and the way that teams game plan around to stop him, and yet he still finds ways to score goals, to be dangerous, to be effective.”
That part matters. Austria isn’t a pushover. They’re organized, physical, and they clearly game-planned around Messi. It didn’t matter. He still found two goals and Argentina walked out with a 2-0 win.
Argentina’s road ahead
Argentina sits alone atop Group J with six points. Jordan, Algeria, and Austria are all chasing them. Argentina’s next game is against Jordan on June 27 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. That’s the group stage finale, and with six points already in hand, Argentina could clinch top spot early and rest some starters ahead of the knockout rounds.
Messi has talked openly about this being his last World Cup. If that holds true, Argentina’s entire campaign is essentially a farewell tour for a player who already has a World Cup title on his resume. Winning it again would be historic. Just making a deep run and playing at this level at his age?
It’s the kind of thing that ends conversations. Not starts them.
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