Lionel Messi's GOAT Legacy & Argentina's Future Without Him

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Messi’s Legacy and Argentina’s Future Without Its Number 10

Lionel Messi’s place in history is secure, but is the praise surrounding him overblown? The panel’s answer was an emphatic no. At 39, Messi remains among the leading scorers and assist providers while competing for the MLS MVP award. His World Cup victory ultimately settled the GOAT debate.

Messi’s journey with Argentina was not always celebrated. After debuting for Barcelona and quickly finding success, his first national team appearance ended with a red card after just three minutes for a perceived elbow on a defender. As he flourished with Barcelona, he struggled to reproduce that success for Argentina and faced intense criticism from supporters.

That frustration grew during the 2015 and 2016 period, when Chile enjoyed its own golden era. Messi’s difficulties with the national team stood in sharp contrast to his club performances, leaving many Argentinians questioning why he could not deliver the same results for his country.

Eventually, everything changed. Messi began winning with Argentina, and the criticism turned into admiration. He helped usher in a golden era that included two Copa América titles and a World Cup victory between them. Argentina also came close to achieving the historic feat of winning two consecutive World Cups.

Now, the question is what happens when Messi is no longer there. Argentina may experience a Messi hangover for several years, but the squad still features stars such as Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, Enzo Fernández, Nico Paz and Ezequiel Palacios. Even if those players possess only part of Messi’s ability, the talent available remains significant.

The expectations will be especially heavy for whoever inherits the number 10 shirt. Nico Paz has been discussed as a possible successor and has produced five goal contributions in three Champions League matches. Even so, the panel does not expect him—or anyone else—to become the next Messi.

Lamine Yamal was identified as the one player with the potential to reach similar heights. In some respects, he is already ahead of where Messi was at the same stage and has started his career with a less checkered record. However, matching Messi would require maintaining that level for 20 years. Talent may provide the opportunity, but longevity and consistency will determine whether anyone can truly approach Messi’s legacy.