FIFA World Cup: Lionel Messi is the GOAT from Mars
Lionel Messi continues to be the world's best player. Even at his physical best, his game has always revolved around using the vital components that make up football, such as pace, strength, vision, and technique.
Brilliant Assist by Messi for the third goalNow, at age 35, he has discovered a method to conserve his energy so that he can still significantly affect a game with frequent little bursts of action while spending most of the game as a spectator.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Built different 🐐 <a href="https://t.co/m5dOaHqryE">pic.twitter.com/m5dOaHqryE</a></p>— B/R Football (@brfootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/brfootball/status/1602764056833986560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Messi nevertheless managed to play a significant role in Argentina's stunning 3-0 triumph over Croatia at the Lusail Stadium, which earned him a return to the World Cup final.
He became the only player since records began in 1966 to both score and provide an assist in four World Cup games in his record-tying 25th appearance.
After Messi's penalty and Julian Alvarez's lucky yet fantastic goal put Argentina up 2-0, the No. 10 tortured the highly-regarded Josko Gvardiol on the right wing before passing the ball back for his striking partner to score his second goal of the game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Messi received the ball about 40 yards from goal on the right wing, with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gvardiol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gvardiol</a> closing in on him.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi</a> spinning his mask around his face and onto the back of his head before breaking away down the byline and setting up Julián lvarez for a tap-in. <a href="https://t.co/q69aCT7dMM">pic.twitter.com/q69aCT7dMM</a></p>— Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) <a href="https://twitter.com/gchahal/status/1602765033418936322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Why wouldn't the supporters behind the goal immediately bow before their god once more? Messi has already accomplished superhuman feats in Qatar.
On Sunday, he will have a second chance to shatter records with the assistance of Lionel Scaloni and a combination of brilliant young athletes and brave veterans.
The final will be his 26th World Cup appearance. He will have the opportunity to take home the Golden Ball, Golden Boot and trophy, ending any uncertainty regarding who the greatest player of all time is.