Lionel Messi: A Football Giant at the 2026 World Cup

Standing just 5 feet 7 inches in studded boots, Lionel Messi will be one of the smallest players on display in North America. But he will bestride the World Cup like a colossus. Messi already had claims to the title of the greatest footballer in history before the 2022 World Cup. But victory in Qatar gave the Argentine a stranglehold on the mantle. And now he captains his all-conquering Alba Celeste in his new backyard. The United States, after mesmerizing Major League Soccer since 2023. On behalf of our entire league, all of our country and everybody that loves the game here and throughout the world, we're honored to have you in our league. Messi already holds the record for appearing in the most World Cup matches with 26. And in North America, he will become the first to feature in six separate tournaments. He remains as important as ever to his team. He's important because almost everything goes through him. The team's attacking plays, whether he finishes it or another teammate does in almost every scoring opportunity, he's usually involved. Another significant accolade is within reach, with Messi beginning the tournament three goals behind the World Cup's all-time top scorer Miroslav Klose. At some point, this volume of records and awards will surely end any arguments over Messi's status as the greatest of all time. Everyone has an opinion, but nobody can doubt that he's there with the greatest all the time. For me, I said many times, I've been the... He's the best. If he would not have won the World Cup, the opinion about what he has done for the world football, in my opinion, personal opinion, that how he's a player would not change absolutely anything. Those things that Messi has done for world football are both tangible and esoteric. There's the record eight Ballon d'Or awards, an Olympic gold medal, and the only two-time winner of the FIFA World Cup golden ball. Then there's the manner in which those trophies have been achieved, the quick feet, the vision, the unrivalled ability to unlock the tightest of defences. Despite Messi's undoubted brilliance, the criticism hanging over him for the majority of his career was that he only performed at club level. Four World Cups delivered only frustration, and the Copa America, too, remained out of reach. It seemed one of the most magical artists to ever grace the game was destined to leave unfulfilled. But aged 34, entering the final act of his storied career, Messi left the home comforts of the Camp Nou for the unfamiliarity of the Parc de France. He went on to star in the 2021 Copa America, ending the tournament the top scorer and its best player. He lifted the trophy for the first time in his career in the most fitting stadium imaginable, Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã, home of arch-rivals Brazil. Finally, Messi and Argentina dared to dream. There is a lot of excitement about a positive World Cup. We won the Copa America. After trying so many times, I finally managed to win a title with a national team. So, after that trophy, there is a lot of excitement for what is ahead of us. Despite his shock opening defeat to Saudi Arabia, Messi guided Alba Celeste to the top of Group C, then scored in every knockout match as Australia, the Netherlands, Croatia and finally France were overcome, the latter following a gripping penalty shootout. After 20 years of striving to reach the summit, Lionel Messi was on top of the world. I have always said that collective awards are better than individual ones. For every player, to win a World Cup is the pinnacle. The record goalscorer in the history of La Liga, the most recorded assists in football history and named in the FIFA Pro World XI for a preposterous 17 consecutive seasons, the 2026 World Cup offers one final opportunity to salute the greatest the game has ever seen.