It is confirmed - Messi is the greatest, simply the greatest. Messi has finally broken the barrier of football divinity. Messi has banished all demons, questions, doubts, and concerns, and acquired the one thing that eluded his entire career - the World Cup. With that he has confirmed his seat in the Football Hall of Divinity. In fact, it wouldn't be wrong to say that Messi has surpassed Maradona.
The final game on December 18 in Doha was inarguably the most exciting match that the world has ever seen. The nail biting, nerve racking, emotions rattling, the exasperations, the adrenaline rush, the frustration of near misses, the rage for triumph, the grit to persevere - I think I can go on for hours just trying to explain what the game meant for all of us. All of it just made the World Cup final a spectacular display of sporting and athletic genius. And the two most important players for their respective teams - Messi and Mbappe - were in the middle of it. The tug of war of youth, grit, and exuberance of Mbappe and the experience, flair, and superhuman skills of Messi took to the centre-stage redefining sports competitiveness. Each and everyone in the game stood tall, while the '2 Ms' trudged high and mighty. But at the end, Messi came out triumphant on the other side of it all. This extraordinary display of sporting genius has completed football, while at the same expanding its popularity and limits to influence.
Messi had the weight of the world on his shoulders. It was getting heavier as a trophy with the Argentine team continued to elude him. Having arrived at the World Cup winning Copa America was certainly a relief. Apparently with that weight off allowed Messi to be the unreserved, dominant, and exuberant player leading his team from the front. We have seen Messi and Argentina play in a way that works best for Messi and also win games with vigour and verve. This team was very similar to the Argentine team of 1986. A resolute, hardworking, and unwavering side with a very good centre-forward. Nothing different than the team of 1986. And the result too is nothing different. With a great team, great expectations, and great performance Messi has the Albiceleste ((sky blue and whites) to the ultimate prize.
Messi was dubbed the GOAT (greatest of all time) for long; but, missing the World Cup was a constant drawback. With the ultimate feather in his cap, Messi is now undoubtedly the Greatest. Messi, the Messiah's calibre isn't something that can be confined to mere words, and definitely not within this short space. So, let's just review some of the comments that other greats have made about the Alien. Raul said, "I was lucky that I play[ed] with Zidane, with Cristiano Ronaldo, with Ronaldo, with Figo… but against, I think Messi…is very different; he makes everything look so easy, so effortless - even the impossible." Luis Figo, who played with CR7 said, "For me, to watch Messi play is a pleasure - it's an incredible pleasure." Even Zlatan who rarely praises anybody expect himself said, "Who's better, Messi or Zlatan? - After what Leo has done in recent years, there's no debate." Such beautiful is Messi's game that Zinedine Zidane chose Messi over CR7 in his dream team. Gary Lineker once said that only Maradona can be compared with Messi for just doing things that other mortals can't do. Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Gerard, Lampard, and many more echo similar sentiments. And now they are chanting greater praise for the little maestro that cumulatively isn't sufficient for what Messi has achieved.
Messi scoring and creating goals through impossible means and skills has been norm of the leagues over the past 15 years. He was there every weekend, over and over and over again -- while different stars rotated in and out of the picture. Statistical comparisons could have had a different effect but in this case too, Messi is unsurpassed. The only one who can come near him is CR7, whose is a separate story that won't be ending triumphantly. What separates Messi from even the greatest of players is that ability to do the things that others can't do; that are simply superhuman. Maradona is the only other player to do that and he didn't do it over the period of time that Messi has, so that gives Messi the edge over the Football God since 1986. Now, Maradona has been succeeded. Finally, his baton has been lifted by Messi and upheld to a higher standard that now seems insurmountable.
Argentina has finally completed the long saga of World Cup tragedy and heartbreaks. Argentina has long been seeking to end its drought, and ended they have with style and splendour. Argentina has finally won the World Cup - the sentence in itself is comprised of almost three decades of heartache, expectations, anticipation, and ecstasy. Argentina and its fans are at the top of the world, both literally and figuratively. The sensation is just indescribable.
Argentina has become the best team in the world and Messi has surpassed the greats of all time. He not only became the greatest but he also has completed football. There could be arguments that he hasn't surpassed Pele as of yet because he has only one World Cup title on his mantle. But what football was in the '70s and '80s and what football is in the current era - the difference is just too stark and too broad to discuss in this article. Suffice to say, football is now more demanding and more cut-throat. Messi has achieved an almost insurmountable feat in terms of statistics, displayed godly skills on the field, provided unimaginable assists for great goals, and scored impossible (for mere humans) goals. At the same time, he has carried the weight of the world and his team on his shoulders and finally achieved the ultimate title. Let's see someone top all of that!!!
Argentine fans, Messi lovers, let's celebrate to our hearts' content and some more. Messi has ensured not only his perpetual greatness but a celebration of all Argentine fans for perpetuity.
Felicitation Argentina! Salute Messi, the Greatest!
