Lionel Messi, two days shy of his 39th birthday, stood tall in Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadion and rewrote football history once more, scoring both goals in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria — including the one that made him the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals. It was a moment that felt both inevitable and miraculous, a culmination of resilience, genius, and an unyielding love for the game. Back in 2016, after missing a penalty in a devastating Copa America final loss to Chile, Messi walked away from international football, saying, "For me, the national team is over." The pain of near misses had become too much. But he returned — and in doing so, unlocked a golden era for Argentine football.
Since reversing that decision, Messi has led Argentina to back-to-back Copa America titles and a World Cup triumph in 2022, where he scored seven goals, including two in the final. Now, on the 40th anniversary of Diego Maradona’s legendary performance against England, Messi added another chapter, becoming the first player to score in six consecutive World Cup matches since Just Fontaine and Jairzinho. His 17th goal — a composed finish after an early penalty miss — moved him past Miroslav Klose, and his 18th, a clever squeeze between two defenders in stoppage time, sealed the record.
Remarkably, 12 of Messi’s 18 World Cup goals have come after he turned 35. He’s scored 13 World Cup goals since his international comeback, all while redefining what’s possible at an age when most players have long retired. Spanish journalist Guillem Balague put it best: "We don't have time to create statues for Lionel Messi or deep analysis for him in newspapers. We cannot keep pace." His intelligence, timing, and ability to find space — not explosive speed — now define his dominance. He’s created 76 chances in World Cup history, more than any other player, and has been involved in 12 goals over his last six tournament matches — 10 scored, two assisted.
Even former rivals are in awe. Olivier Giroud, 2018 World Cup winner, praised Messi’s physical discipline: "He is not suffering physically, he is managing his healthy lifestyle well — he has to because otherwise you cannot stay playing that long." Danny Murphy called him "the best player I've ever seen," while Ashley Williams asked the question on everyone’s lips: "Are we looking at the greatest player ever?"
Argentina may lean heavily on their captain, but as Chris Sutton noted, it’s not just the goals — it’s how he "knits things together, the little guy for the big moments." With Jordan next on the horizon and Argentina already through to the last 32, the legend continues. And if Messi’s past is any indication, the next chapter is already being written.