​For many, the GOAT debate in soccer concluded in December 2022 when Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy. Now, four years later and at 39, the Argentine captain has guided his team back to another World Cup final. Yet the tournament has continued to fuel ongoing comparisons between Messi and the other two generational talents, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé. Stephen A. Smith offered a perspective that he believes clarifies the landscape more than ever: “The superstar that he is, the one and only Messi. I mean, he didn’t score, but he assisted on both goals, and I’m telling you right now what an assist that was… I just know greatness when I see it. You want to compare him to Cristiano Ronaldo. Go ahead and do it. You want to sit up there and say he’s the best, or Ronaldo’s the best, or Mbappé is the best. Go ahead and do it. I’m just telling you right now. Messi’s still standing. France is home. Portugal is home. Those two fellas I mentioned? They’re home. Messi’s still playing,” Smith proclaimed on X.
Portugal exited in the round of 16, while France fell in the semifinals. The reigning champions, Argentina, are back in the final once again under Messi’s leadership. Despite the ongoing debates about their greatness, Mbappé and Ronaldo were unable to take their teams to a final this time, whereas 39-year-old Messi continues to be the decisive factor for the Albiceleste. At present, Messi sits tied with Mbappé for the tournament’s top scorer, each with eight goals and three assists. Messi still has the opportunity to edge ahead in the final and claim the tournament’s leading scorer honor, while Mbappé would need a stronger tally in the loser’s final against England to close the gap.
Beyond scoring, Smith praises Messi’s playmaking brilliance and his ability to create opportunities for teammates. The semifinal against England offered the latest proof. In that 2-1 comeback victory for Argentina, Messi delivered two pivotal assists: he helped Enzo Fernández level the score in the 85th minute and then produced a flawless cross for Lautaro Martínez’s stoppage-time winner. With the rest of the world potentially regrouping or heading home, Argentina’s captain remains at the center of the action, a demonstration, in Smith’s view, of Messi’s enduring greatness.
All signs point toward the 2026 World Cup potentially marking Lionel Messi’s final hurrah, a chapter fans have dubbed “El Último Tango.” Ronaldo has already announced that this would be his last World Cup, suggesting that supporters may have only one more opportunity to witness Messi’s magic on the world stage. The ongoing comparisons between Messi, Mbappé, and Ronaldo will likely persist, but for now, Messi’s performances continue to tilt the balance in Argentina’s favor as they chase another title.