15 Jul 2026 23:09:13
I have to say fair play to Messi, 39, and still by a mile the best player in the world, absolute joke he is, and simply a joy to watch. He's proving science and what's possible wrong over and over.
{Ed025's Note - its a pity he is an odious little irk really Nath..
16 Jul 2026 00:04:57
Obviously a legend of the game, but I wouldn't say he's still the best in the world. The standard of international football is poor and he plays in a sub-standard league.
16 Jul 2026 00:17:11
Far from best in the world.
16 Jul 2026 00:19:07
West, a 39-year-old gave a reality check to what fans consider modern "superstars". Today's "world class" wouldn't be a touch on what peak Ronaldo and Messi were.
Messi had moments in this match, and they were of the highest quality in a vital match.
What does it matter what league he plays in when he can put in that performance? Don't be sour grapes against the goat.
16 Jul 2026 00:49:23
40-year-old Messi made prime Rice, Anderson and Bellingham look as clueless as 3 nits on a bald head.
16 Jul 2026 01:33:34
Messi was great in moments, and that's all he needs to do.
He walks a lot, but he puts in enough effort without the ball to not be a passenger the entire game.
Good on him and good on Argentina. They showed fight and winning mentality to claw their way back into the game and into the final.
16 Jul 2026 02:58:11
If he was the best player in the world he wouldn't have moved to MLS three years ago. Even Messi doesn't think he's the best player in the world anymore.
16 Jul 2026 04:01:15
Messi is great, but in a competitive season with a lot of matches + facing teams that work hard as a unit, like PSG, for example, would destroy this Argentina.
Nothing against Messi, at 39 he's still better than many players half his age. It's just that he himself probably recognises he can't do it at that level consistently anymore.
It's not a dig at Messi, it's just why I think why some or maybe more than some people (including me) prefer club football than international football. I don't care about internationals, but I'll watch the final, sure. Not like there's any club football on right now.
16 Jul 2026 04:09:59
If someone has earned the right to chill in the MLS and then perform at the World Cup, then it's Lionel Messi.
15 Jul 2026 23:31:01
Ed025 why is a football page bringing up off the pitch stuff? We've just watched the match, Messi in moment's was top drawer and yet the editors are going out of their way to make it personal about an Argentinian player ? yous lads look like Millwall supporters. Stop it ??
{Ed025's Note - frustration i suppose Ron, but i stand by what i said mate..
16 Jul 2026 06:39:54
Who says I'm sour? I don't care about England. I literally just have the opinion that he's not the best player in the world right now.
16 Jul 2026 06:48:32
For me, the best player in the world is probably still Rodri. He's irreplaceable.
16 Jul 2026 07:12:46
I think he is superb even at 39. You can't argue with the goals he has scored, the assists and just the sheer trickery that he has in his looker. The guy is a magician, does make him the GOAT? Hard to say, there's a few who could easily be up there.
He made England look like school boys in those last 2 minutes when Argentina were in trouble.
No idea how odious he is, seems to carry himself well from what I've seen on and off the pitch but I don't know the guy, just like the rest of us.
16 Jul 2026 07:20:19
20 minutes.
16 Jul 2026 08:05:04
Well said, Irish.
16 Jul 2026 08:41:22
Messi is there for moments when he is with Argentina. They play for him, not the other way around, and deliver for the most part. Also, he has some top, top players around him, which makes it easier. Diego never had any of these in his pump and he still cooked, so there's that.
Still world class? Well, if a player, well past his prime, is still world class at near 40, then that should tell you the state of football at this point in time.
16 Jul 2026 11:28:32
Worth remembering that the HGH taken by Messi in his teens had the side effect of giving him greater muscle mass, density and stamina.
Whether he took it for that reason or not is irrelevant. That's the effect. So nobody should be surprised that at 39 he can still run around a lot.
16 Jul 2026 13:33:59
Nevada, so he is a cheat, otherwise he be playing panto with Snow White.
16 Jul 2026 15:05:45
Nevada, there are many out there who think (scratch that, they know with evidence) Messi would never have been allowed to play football at all if anyone actually bothered to do their jobs.
17 Jul 2026 00:33:19
Why can't a player at that age be world class?
His mind, technique, intelligence is still top top top.
Speed-wise, obviously not the pace he used to have, but he more than makes up for it in all other parts of his game.
He is still world class.