Humans are born to conquer the world . Some win through strength, some change humanity through intelligence… and some shake the world with football.
Among the billions of football fans worldwide, there are hundreds of millions who know how to play, hundreds of thousands of professional footballers, but only a few are called superstars and only one is called a genius. That is Messi. He doesn't have fancy nicknames like: "King of Football" Pele, "Emperor" Beckenbauer, "Saint" Cruyff, "Golden Boy" Maradona… He is simply Messi with the nickname "the flea".
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| Messi scored in Argentina's 3-1 victory over Jordan in the final Group J match of the 2026 World Cup , held on the morning of June 28. Photo: AP |
On the morning of June 28th, Messi scored again. This goal came as Argentina had already secured their place in the knockout round as group winners, only adding to his already impressive record, making him even more beloved, celebrated, and awaited with even greater expectations. Initially, he was brought on as a substitute to warm up for the next match against Cape Verde in the round of 16. But when given the opportunity, the qualities of a football genius shone through.
Giving Messi a free kick just outside the 16.5-meter line was tantamount to suicide. The most realistic effort the Jordan players could have made was to stand in the right place and try to block any gaps. And against a massive wall, Messi still found space. He curled a low shot, not powerful, but it caught the Jordan goalkeeper completely off guard. This wasn't a beautiful goal from Messi at the 2026 World Cup, nor was it an impressive free-kick goal. But it spoke volumes about Messi's unparalleled genius.
Whenever Messi has the ball, opposing defenders don't know what he's going to do, or even if they do, they can't stop him. A touch, a turn, a glance, a shot from Messi changes everything. Legendary player Ibrahimovic said he feels "haunted watching Messi play." He believes it's not football, it's psychological warfare, with Messi suffocating his opponents' thinking.
Genius is never measured by the number of kilometers run, but by the fate of the match after each touch of the ball. Messi plays like an aging artist stepping onto the stage for the last time, no longer concerned with applause, only wanting to leave behind the most beautiful work before the curtain closes. Messi has repeatedly shared that he can't remember all the goals he's scored or every specific moment in his career. He plays football for the team's victory, not for individual records.
Six goals in three group stage matches – without a doubt, Messi is having the most perfect start in his six World Cup appearances. He continues to set records, with the number of goals and wins steadily increasing. But for fans now, they are no longer overly concerned about how many goals Messi scores, because every touch of the ball is memorable and full of emotion. Simply put, for a football genius, the only thing fans should focus on is enjoying football, enjoying Messi playing, because he is already 39 years old.
In 2013, Argentinian journalist Hernan Casciari shocked the football world with an article comparing Messi to a dog. This wasn't an insult, but rather a metaphor to honor Messi's dedication, honesty, and the beauty of the game. Whenever he had the ball, he always charged forward. He didn't feign fouls to win free kicks, nor did he complain about being fouled; he always focused on winning.
For most fans, Messi is the GOAT – the greatest player of all time. For the people of Argentina, he is not just a football genius, but also a belief, a love, a religion… And what about his teammates? Midfielder De Paul, famous for his aggressive, physical style of play, is willing to be Messi's "bodyguard." Whenever Messi is fouled, his teammates immediately rush forward to confront him, as if shouting at the opponent: "Touch Messi and you're in trouble with us." Coach Scaloni laughed when asked by a reporter about how he manages Messi: "What else could I teach him? Of course, we still discuss tactical adjustments like changing formations or how to implement attacks so he knows how to control the game. But teaching Messi how to play football? Absolutely not. Never."
Messi is enjoying a golden age with the Argentine national team. Yet, this genius once announced his retirement from the national team after the bitter defeat at the 2016 Copa America and a long period of failure to win a title with the national team. But for the people of Argentina, they believe that God chose Messi. After winning the 2022 World Cup, Messi has made every match he plays for Argentina more poetic, more artistic, more spontaneous, and more emotional. Now, comparisons between him and the legend Maradona are over; he comes to the 2026 World Cup to enjoy football, to enjoy playing as a champion. But who knows, perhaps the 2026 World Cup will be Messi's ultimate achievement?
Perhaps there will be more goals, more records, and more titles to come for Messi. However, what cannot be eroded by time is the emotion he leaves behind. By law, the world of football will always produce strikers who score more goals, players who are faster, stronger, or younger than Messi. But it will probably be a long time before nature creates another masterpiece like Messi. Because he not only wins with his feet, but also conquers the hearts of billions of people with the pure beauty of football. We – the fans – are living in the happiest days, witnessing Messi play and score goals, because there will be no second Messi in this world.
Video of Messi scoring a free-kick goal in Argentina's 3-1 victory over Jordan. Source: VTV
Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/the-thao/worldcup-2026/messi-kiet-tac-cua-tao-hoa-1046658
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