With 37 club trophies, seven Ballon D’Ors, and six European Golden Boots. A Copa America championship, an Olympic gold medal, and a long list of scoring and statistical records that may never be broken.
With one notable exception, Lionel Messi has won everything in his 18-year career. And won it over and over again.
On Sunday, the 35-year-old Argentina captain will have the opportunity to complete the last blank on his resume: a World Cup winner’s medal.
For Messi’s most ardent supporters, victory over France at Doha’s Lusail Stadium will settle the debate over where he belongs in football’s pantheon.
Messi’s career accomplishments have already earned him the right to be mentioned alongside Pele, Diego Maradona, Alfredo Di Stefano, and Johan Cruyff.
Does a World Cup victory on Sunday vault him ahead of that august company? Some believe it does. Others believe he is already alone.
“I don’t have any doubt saying that: he is the best in history,” was the verdict of Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni after Messi’s virtuoso display in the 3-0 semi-final win over Croatia.
Former England captain Alan Shearer believes Messi’s compatriot Diego Maradona is the greatest player of all time because of his World Cup victory in Mexico in 1986.
“If Messi were to win it here, my view would change,” Shearer told the BBC.
Former Argentina striker Jorge Burruchaga, who scored the game-winning goal — set up by Maradona — in the 1986 World Cup final victory over West Germany, offered a more nuanced perspective.
For Burruchaga, Messi is the greatest player of his generation, with only Cristiano Ronaldo coming close. However, the 60-year-old believes that making comparisons to previous generations is pointless.
“Win or lose, Messi is not more or less than Maradona,” Burruchaga told AFP. “Messi is going to be in history whatever happens.
“There are five players in the past 70 years who can be considered the best in the world — Di Stefano, Johan Cruyff, Pele, Maradona and Messi. He added, “Messi is in that list, whether he wins the World Cup or not. But I hope he does.”
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