Lionel Messi still Argentina’s centre of gravity two decades on

ARLINGTON – Twenty years after Lionel Messi first stepped onto a World Cup stage, Argentina are still being pulled along by the same irresistible force.

The question before the tournament was whether the champions could manage the workload of a captain, who turns 39 on June 24.

After two matches, and five Messi goals, the question for his rivals is: How do they stop him?

Messi has scored every Argentina goal at this World Cup, carrying them into the knockout phase with a game to spare and setting the early tone of their campaign as a renewed statement of intent.

After a hat-trick in their campaign opener against Algeria, his double in the 2-0 win over Austria on June 22 made him the most prolific scorer in World Cup history with 18 goals.

That moves him two clear of Germany great Miroslav Klose’s overall mark, and extended his scoring streak to six straight Cup games.

The holders were expected to remain dangerous, but perhaps not quite so dependent on – or so dramatically elevated by – their captain.

Instead, Messi has supplied all their cutting edge, turning a team already difficult to beat into one with a match-winner setting the pace of the tournament.

For his teammates, even after all these years, the sense of wonder has not worn off.

“It’s crazy,” Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes told TyC Sports. “He keeps surprising us in every training session, in every match.

“It’s a pleasure for us, and we try to enjoy him day by day, not only on the pitch but off it too, because he is spectacular as a person.”

Striker Julian Alvarez said Messi’s longevity only made his latest surge more remarkable.

“Twenty years being the best in the world, the best in history, and he still continues to show, at his age, that he has the talent and all his magic,” he said.

Defender Lisandro Martinez added: “There’s no need to compare him, because he stands alone at the top.”

Coach Lionel Scaloni admitted to being fatigued by the endless questions around Messi – in a good way.

“He has commitment and this is what he generates. I have no more words to talk about Leo. It makes us a little bit tired talking about him all the time,” he said.

Argentina are not simply paying tribute to a fading icon or trying to carry him through one last tournament. Four years after Messi led them to glory in Qatar, they are still being lifted by him and still looking to him for the moments that decide games.

Two decades on, Argentina are still built around Messi.

What comes next feels like speculation rather than prediction. The march toward 1,000 career goals – he already has 916? A second World Cup title?

Even a seventh appearance at the tournament in his 40s in 2030, when Argentina are slated to host one of the opening matches?

Few would dare to draw a line under Messi now.

For his part, the Argentina captain is keeping the door open.

“As long as I can and I feel good enough to do it, I’ll be there,” he said after the win over Algeria.

As for the victory over Austria, Messi said he was “very angry” with himself for missing a penalty – and channelled it into scoring twice to make World Cup history.

If anybody is still doubting the Argentina great, here is the explicit proof of his world-class mindset.

Having dragged a weak penalty wide early on with the game at 0-0, he pushed on with his first goal to be the leading scorer at the World Cup with 17 goals.

He then added No. 18 in second-half injury time to propel Argentina into the last 32.

“Today there was a moment where I was very angry about the penalty because I missed and I struck it very badly,” said Messi. “Luckily we were able to turn the situation around, take the lead and take three very important points.

Asked for his favourite World Cup goal of his career, Messi could not pinpoint one.

“I don’t remember, really. I’m tired. I don’t have a lot of strength and it’s hard to think for me right now. So I’m just enjoying this moment.” REUTERS, AFP