Where would Argentina be if not for Messi? On a flight home from this World Cup

ATLANTA — Where would Argentina be without Lionel Messi? Likely on a flight back to Buenos Aires, with the FIFA World Cup trophy headed towards FIFA’s New York headquarters, awaiting a new champion on July 19.

The trophy remains with Argentina, thanks to arguably the greatest player of all time.

The debate over football’s greatest of all time (GOAT) will always ignite passion among fans. While legends like Pelé, Diego Maradona, and Cristiano Ronaldo have their supporters, this World Cup is reinforcing Messi’s unmatched status.

Still not convinced? Just ask Egypt or the Cape Verde team, who pushed Argentina to the brink in their recent 3-2 round-of-32 match in Miami.

Egypt had high hopes of a historic win. Guided by Mohamed Salah, Hossam Hassan’s squad led 2-0 with just over 10 minutes left, tantalizingly close to eliminating the defending champions.

Then, Messi emerged. The 39-year-old had faltered with a penalty miss earlier and was silent for much of the game. Yet, in the clutch, he found that extra gear, setting up Cristian Romero’s goal before scoring himself with his eighth goal of the tournament.

Messi’s knack for late-game heroics was once again on display. He has now scored in all nine of his World Cup appearances, marking a record, and has extended his lead as the all-time World Cup scorer with 21 goals, outpacing France’s Kylian Mbappé by two.

However, amidst Messi’s brilliance, questions arise about the team’s overall strength. Do they rely too heavily on him? Have they benefited from an easier path to the quarterfinals? And if Messi falters, who will rise to challenge formidable opponents in their bid for a second consecutive World Cup title?

Interestingly, similar inquiries are directed at Portugal and Ronaldo, Messi’s long-standing rival. Portugal may have performed better in earlier rounds had Ronaldo not been part of their squad, while Argentina’s fortunes hinge significantly on Messi’s eight goals.

That said, Argentina’s journey so far has featured a manageable lineup. Their highest-ranked opponent was Austria at 23rd; in contrast, they faced three African nations: Algeria (29th), Cape Verde (65th), and Egypt (24th), along with Jordan (73rd). Their upcoming quarterfinal clash with Switzerland (15th) will be challenging, but still falls outside the top tier.

True tests await, possibly in a semifinal against England (No. 4) or a final featuring top-ranked teams like France, Spain, Morocco, or Belgium. Eventually, the world will see if Messi and Argentina can perform at peak levels against elite competition.

While Messi’s match-winning prowess is undeniable, his age has led some to question his performance against the best teams. Thus, Argentina must cultivate a plan B; they can’t depend solely on Messi for victory.

The team has conceded five goals in three outings against Jordan, Cape Verde, and Egypt, a trend that could jeopardize their hopes against top-tier teams. Lautaro Martínez, a top scorer for Inter Milan, has netted only two goals in seven matches this year for Argentina, while Julián Álvarez has tallied just one goal in his last 12 appearances.

As the former Barcelona star continues to demonstrate his exceptional abilities, there’s always the concern that the magic could fade. Argentina must be prepared, as they can’t always rely on Messi to deliver when it matters most.