Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes knows a thing or two about being called the G.O.A.T. He’s heard it since he started slinging no-look passes in the NFL. So when he tweets three goat emojis at someone else, it means something.
That’s exactly what happened Wednesday night after Lionel Messi flipped the script on England. Argentina was down a goal with under 10 minutes left in the World Cup semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Then Messi happened.
He set up Enzo Fernandez for the equalizer in the 85th minute. Then, with the stadium shaking, he dropped a perfect cross onto Lautaro Martinez’s head for the winner. Argentina won 2-1. They’re heading back to the World Cup final for the second straight tournament.
Mahomes posted the three emojis — 🐐🐐🐐 — and later put up a separate post that was basically more goat appreciation. He was one of millions glued to the screen, but it’s different when a guy who gets called the GOAT in his own sport hands the title to someone else.
Messi Did Messi Things When Argentina Needed It Most
England controlled most of the game. They had the tempo. They had the crowd split pretty evenly. But Messi doesn’t care about any of that. He waited until the 81st minute and then just decided it was time.
Fernandez’s goal was a rocket from distance. He celebrated with Messi’s signature pose — the one where he points to the crowd. Then Martinez got on the end of that cross and headed it home. Two goals in about six minutes. Argentina flipped the whole thing.
This is the same Argentina team that beat France on penalties in 2022. Now they get a shot at back-to-back titles against Spain on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. They’ve won two of the last three World Cups. Spain is the only team that can stop them from making it three in a row.
Mahomes isn’t the only one paying attention. The NFL guy, the soccer guy, the guy who throws touchdowns for a living — he watches Messi and just sees what everyone else sees. Except he’s probably the only one who could make a case for himself wearing the same crown someday.
For now though, the crown stays with Messi. And Mahomes just used three little animal emojis to say what millions were already thinking.
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