Lionel Messi has been lauded for having “total control” after scoring for Argentina at the World cup 2026 against Cape Verde in the last 32.
The 39-year-old struck his seventh goal of the World Cup to hand the defending champions the lead in Miami.
A 20th in his career at this level, Messi attracted widespread praise for his control of Lisandro Martinez’s ball before his steep finish past Vozinha.
“We’re dealing with the greatest player that’s ever lived, in some people’s eyes, it’s the space that Messi has to work in, this touch is, that’s elitism, that’s the greatest you can ever do,” Ian Wright told ITV Sport.
“For mere mortals, it’s quite difficult, total control, the laces, all laces, it’s total control.
“[Like Dennis Bergkamp said] you go cold, because he’s in total control of what he’s about to do. When you’re at this level, it’s absolutely fantastic as a forward.”
The goal extended Messi’s stream at the World Cup after scoring in eight consecutive games.
“Think about it from an attacking perspective, if you have a forward moving around, it alerts you,” Neville also pointed out. “If he looks like he’s disinterested, you can get lulled into a false sense of security. He’s not involved in the game, he’s been absolutely done by Borges, he looks disinterested, he looks like he’s not part of the game, then flash, it’s absolutely incredible, he makes the hard things look absolutely incredible.”
While Karen Carney added: “It’s the element of him just walking, he’s like a lion, stalking his prey. Credit to Martinez, he has to see the pass, but the rest is just genius. He’s given me new genius, every game. That moment, where you switch off, at that level, it only takes that.”
The winner of the last 32 tie will face Egypt in Atlanta after the Pharaohs defeated Australia on penalties.
