History always knows how to choose the most symbolic moments to honor the greatest people. That's Lionel Messi, and it's still June 22nd. And as if by fate, Messi's record was set right in Dallas – the same place where 32 years ago Maradona bitterly bowed his head and left the tournament after a doping test. Messi's powerful shots not only propelled him into history once again, but also cleansed the darkness that had haunted the past of Argentinian football.
Messi's story at the 2026 World Cup so far resembles a movie script. No one believed he would continue doing this as he approached his 39th birthday. But it's true; these are the final glorious chapters he himself will write.
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Messi's second goal against Austria. Photo: AP |
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| Messi waves to the fans after the match against Austria. Photo: AP |
Before sending the stadium into a frenzy in the 38th minute, Messi had already managed to hold the breath of his fans. He missed a penalty, the third time he had missed a penalty at a World Cup. In the past few days, his home country of Argentina had been rocked by malicious and false rumors about the death of his father, Jorge Messi. These rumors had put considerable pressure on him.
But that missed penalty was only a delay, it couldn't prevent history from calling his name.
Messi turned and passed the ball down the left wing, initiating the attack. Facundo Medina played a back pass, Thiago Almada looked back and executed a high-class flick of the ball. Almada certainly knew Messi was surging forward from behind, and he surely understood how dangerous his captain could be in such situations. The ball reached Messi's feet, and he finished with a decisive one-touch shot, tearing through goalkeeper Alexander Schlager's net.
In the final minute of added time, Messi nearly broke another assist record if Julian Alvarez had capitalized on a perfect pass. Despite his teammate's missed opportunity, the 38-year-old striker didn't stand idly by. Despite his exhaustion, he immediately surged forward to receive the rebound, patiently stretching to finish the ball into the net. The goal that sealed the 2-0 victory was clear evidence of his unwavering fighting spirit until the very last second.
Messi, nearing his 39th birthday, still plays a deep-lying role, acting as a conductor orchestrating Argentina's overall style of play. Under coach Lionel Scaloni, Argentina is tenacious, rugged, and pragmatic. Experts have even compared them to Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid. But the difference in this rugged team is that they possess the magic of Lionel Messi.
Now, Messi is enjoying a perfect stage built for him by his dedicated teammates. Those around him fight selflessly, establishing a system solely to serve and set up the number 10 to shine. On the field, Rodrigo De Paul, Emiliano Martinez, and Nicolas Otamendi shield him like a national treasure. In return, Messi doesn't hesitate to drop deep, tirelessly pressing in his own half, even though his age and physical condition no longer allow him to do so.
Messi's protection extends even off the pitch. His close friend De Paul was seen accompanying him to a haircut before a match. And coach Scaloni angrily dismissed an insensitive question from the media that touched upon Messi's family pain.
Before the match, former Brazilian national team striker Ronaldo Nazário (the "fat" Ronaldo) shared his thoughts on Messi in an interview with L'Équipe: "He's 38 years old. When I was 38, I had been retired for four years and weighed 120 kg. It's time for the world to accept the fact that Messi is the greatest player of all time."
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| Messi became the top scorer in World Cup history. Photo: AFA |
Football fans often see Messi as a player with exceptional talent, but few mention that he also had to endure a process of arduous training. His career began with the image of a young boy persistently injecting growth hormone into his thighs until he was 15 years old. No athlete can maintain peak physical condition nearing their forties without discipline and an extremely strict diet and lifestyle.
De Paul revealed that he had wanted to film Messi's training sessions so he could later make a documentary about their journey to the 2026 World Cup. However, Messi seemed uninterested in appearing on camera, repeatedly asking his teammates why they were filming him.
After the match against Austria, Messi admitted he was "tired and exhausted," but he still felt special to be playing football. In the vibrant stands of Dallas, the world's most passionate fans created a seismic wave of sound. Echoing throughout the space were the classic tunes of "Muchachos"—Argentina's anthem for the 2022 World Cup; blended with the new melodies of this summer, "La Cuarta Estrella"—a song with lyrics that predict Argentina's fourth World Cup title.
But whether La Albiceleste's World Cup campaign is successful or not is perhaps no longer that important. Because at this point, seeing Messi shine is already a blessing and a source of happiness for the Argentinians.
Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/the-thao/worldcup-2026/messi-viet-tiep-nhung-trang-hao-hoa-1045690
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