Soccer
\n Lionel Messi’s legend grows with 2026 World Cup to remember
\n <\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\nEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. \u2013 It may not have been the fairytale ending Lionel Messi<\/a> and Argentina were hoping for, but Inter Miami CF<\/a>‘s legendary No. 10 delivered a 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/a> for the ages.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nIn what could have been his final World Cup, Messi set numerous tournament records<\/a> while leading La Albiceleste to the doorstep of back-to-back championships for the first time in over 60 years.\u00a0<\/p>\nAlthough Argentina were unable to overcome Spain, who claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory<\/a> in Sunday’s final, the GOAT gave fans a spectacular showing all summer long.\u00a0<\/p>\n\u201cHe\u2019s the best player ever to step on a soccer field,\u201d Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters after the final whistle at New York\/New Jersey Stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing changes that, despite the incredible World Cup he had.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\nGOATed summer<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Already a World Cup champion and widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, Messi still had doubters entering his joint-record sixth World Cup. Specifically, just how far could the 39-year-old lead Argentina?<\/p>\n
In a tournament full of young superstars like France’s Kylian Mbapp\u00e9, England’s Jude Bellingham and Norway’s Erling Haaland, Messi more than held his own.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With 8g\/4a in eight games, the back-to-back Landon Donovan MLS MVP had a hand in a stunning 12 of Argentina\u2019s 19 goals scored at the competition, falling just short of Mbapp\u00e9 (10g\/4a) for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot.<\/p>\n
Behind Messi’s stunning form, Argentina breezed through the group stage before producing one of the most memorable knockout-stage campaigns<\/a> in tournament history, full of amazing twists and turns.\u00a0<\/p>\n\u201cIt was clear to me that he was going to play as long as he wanted to, and his teammates were going to support him,\u201d added Scaloni. \u201cI hope he is proud of his teammates, and I think he is.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope the fans are proud of the team and of him for what he\u2019s done.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\nSix World Cups. 20 years. One Leo. pic.twitter.com\/hFNDhOS85Z<\/a><\/p>\n\u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 19, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\nLegacy secured<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Despite failing to claim a historic second straight World Cup title, Messi bolstered his GOAT status throughout the tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During Sunday’s final, he became the first player in history to start three World Cup finals – all as captain. That was just one of many milestones this summer, along with setting the record for most career World Cup goal contributions (33) and most career World Cup assists (12), to name a few.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With 207 senior appearances for Argentina, Messi is one of only four men\u2019s players to eclipse 200 caps, along with Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Luka Modri\u0107 (Croatia) and Bader Al-Mutawa (Kuwait).\u00a0<\/p>\n
He’s also scored 125 goals for his country, which ranks second all-time in international soccer history. Meanwhile, his 68 national team assists are the most by any player.<\/p>\n
Messi’s remarkable World Cup built on the MLS-best 20 goal contributions (12g\/8a) he’s produced this season for Inter Miami. Along with Argentina and Herons teammate Rodrigo De Paul<\/a>, he’ll look to guide the reigning MLS Cup presented by Audi champions to back-to-back titles in 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\nHowever, if this World Cup was Messi\u2019s last dance on the global stage, there\u2019s no question he\u2019ll go out as one of the greatest international players ever.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. \u2013 It may not have been the fairytale ending Lionel Messi<\/a> and Argentina were hoping for, but Inter Miami CF<\/a>‘s legendary No. 10 delivered a 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/a> for the ages.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n In what could have been his final World Cup, Messi set numerous tournament records<\/a> while leading La Albiceleste to the doorstep of back-to-back championships for the first time in over 60 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n Although Argentina were unable to overcome Spain, who claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory<\/a> in Sunday’s final, the GOAT gave fans a spectacular showing all summer long.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the best player ever to step on a soccer field,\u201d Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters after the final whistle at New York\/New Jersey Stadium.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing changes that, despite the incredible World Cup he had.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Already a World Cup champion and widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, Messi still had doubters entering his joint-record sixth World Cup. Specifically, just how far could the 39-year-old lead Argentina?<\/p>\n In a tournament full of young superstars like France’s Kylian Mbapp\u00e9, England’s Jude Bellingham and Norway’s Erling Haaland, Messi more than held his own.\u00a0<\/p>\n With 8g\/4a in eight games, the back-to-back Landon Donovan MLS MVP had a hand in a stunning 12 of Argentina\u2019s 19 goals scored at the competition, falling just short of Mbapp\u00e9 (10g\/4a) for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot.<\/p>\n Behind Messi’s stunning form, Argentina breezed through the group stage before producing one of the most memorable knockout-stage campaigns<\/a> in tournament history, full of amazing twists and turns.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt was clear to me that he was going to play as long as he wanted to, and his teammates were going to support him,\u201d added Scaloni. \u201cI hope he is proud of his teammates, and I think he is.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope the fans are proud of the team and of him for what he\u2019s done.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Six World Cups. 20 years. One Leo. pic.twitter.com\/hFNDhOS85Z<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 19, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Despite failing to claim a historic second straight World Cup title, Messi bolstered his GOAT status throughout the tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n During Sunday’s final, he became the first player in history to start three World Cup finals – all as captain. That was just one of many milestones this summer, along with setting the record for most career World Cup goal contributions (33) and most career World Cup assists (12), to name a few.\u00a0<\/p>\n With 207 senior appearances for Argentina, Messi is one of only four men\u2019s players to eclipse 200 caps, along with Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Luka Modri\u0107 (Croatia) and Bader Al-Mutawa (Kuwait).\u00a0<\/p>\n He’s also scored 125 goals for his country, which ranks second all-time in international soccer history. Meanwhile, his 68 national team assists are the most by any player.<\/p>\n Messi’s remarkable World Cup built on the MLS-best 20 goal contributions (12g\/8a) he’s produced this season for Inter Miami. Along with Argentina and Herons teammate Rodrigo De Paul<\/a>, he’ll look to guide the reigning MLS Cup presented by Audi champions to back-to-back titles in 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, if this World Cup was Messi\u2019s last dance on the global stage, there\u2019s no question he\u2019ll go out as one of the greatest international players ever.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n GOATed summer<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Legacy secured<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n