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    Is Lionel Messi’s legacy DEFINED by winning the World Cup? | ESPN FC
    World Cup 2026

    Is Lionel Messi’s legacy DEFINED by winning the World Cup? | ESPN FC



    On ESPN FC, Pablo Zabaleta and Nedum Onuoha join Alexis Nunes to react to Argentina’s win over Mexico and reports suggesting Lionel Messi is set to join Inter Miami.
    #ESPNFC #WorldCup #worldcup #soccer

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    View 42 Comments

    42 Comments

    1. sanxiagom on

      Messi played w/ Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets. THAT's when he WON EVERYTHING. THOSE players WON the WORLD CUP. As for a player that makes the difference, he's not as good as Mbappe 🤷

    6. Pasha Pasovski on

      Only for casuals,true football fans know that a tournament, any tournament doesn't give a proper gage of a player because it depends on so many thing that are not in control of any one player!
      Messi got me watching football again in Barca, but because his genius was truly shining in such a team! Maradona is technically at the same level, but he wasn't committed to being a player as he loved to party!
      Ronaldinho same! Messi is football first and greatest ever, never flopped, no drama and he's strong,unselfish, simply genius!

    7. Alex Alex alex on

      This whole “defines” idea is just wrong.
      I mean sure it would be a great addition to his trophies and is the biggest possible one.
      But individually it doesn’t define anything.
      Tons of 💩players have won world cups too.

    10. A R on

      It’s pathetic to see the burden of breaking deadlocks still on Messi. Messi is his best when he has less pressure on him. He would have loved to be part of a team like Brazil. In spite of having some big names on the sheet, Argentina lacks the coordination that a World Cup winning should have. Also, One man can never save you everyday! Poland simply have to stop Messi to beat Argentina.

    12. bristian on

      Messi is the GOAT..he doesn’t need the World Cup to prove that..i used to watch Barcelona simply to see messi magic every weekend and i don’t support them. What he has done for football is unmatched.

    15. Danny Soto on

      I don’t think we’ll see him as less if a goat to win because who ever knows ball knows it’s a team game but if Argentina do win with all the goals and trophies he has the World Cup is the cherry ontop and attacking player could dream of

    16. Kai Palmer on

      500 years fr9m now people will still remember Pele and Maradona because of the world cup. If Messi doesn't he'll just be remembered as great but not legendary

    17. Julio Gil on

      Argentina needs to focus on the third group game against Poland. I would love to see Dybala play instead of Di Maria who is not playing at his best level so far in the tournament…. Stop worrying about "winning the world cup" and focus on winning the game in front of them.

    20. Truth on

      How can you give someone so many praises after losing to Saudi Arabia Mexico fear him so they lose Saudi Arabia did not fear him sad to see what football gone too overrated Messi after losing to Saudi Arabia that’s embarrassing to lose to a team like that.

    21. Ted S on

      Why does Nedum look so so bored when he isnt talking/involved in the convo. He really seems like he doesn't want to be there. I don't know and I could be wrong. Just my observations.

    22. Emmanuel Enyinwa on

      HOW.MANY.TIMES!!!!!! Are you gonna address this TIRED question? Before "he" wins the World Cup, doesn't he at least have to COMPETE in it? He has been totally GHOSTING the games for almost 20 years. Even in his 'great" game vs Mexico, he literally just wandered around the pitch disinterested for

    23. Burt Hollobaugh on

      Messi is for me the best of all time and inarguably in the top 5 of all time whether his team wins a world cup or not. It would be a nice achievement for him and I'm sure he wants it real bad, but it hardly defines his career.

    26. Darth wRath on

      He's unquestionably The GOAT with or without the World Cup. Nobody does wonders like him on the pitch for almost 2 decades and then lives like a normal guy.

      Simple, honest no acting footballer who's oblivious to who he is in the history of the game.

      "We will never ever see another player like him. Not me, not you no one will"
      – Pep Guardiola

    27. R G on

      Man the world cup is at the end of the day a tournament. Real test of greatness is doing it season after season and Messi been doing that. His legacy is set with or without a world cup win

    28. mohamed nazli on

      Cruyff never won the world cup. Neither did Di Stefano and Puskas. George Best never even played in the world cup. Yet all of them are among the all time greats. Winning the world cup is not the be all, end all. Messi will go down as one of the greatest ever even if he couldn’t emulate what Maradona did. Messi is the individual version of the 1982 Brazil the 1954 Hungary teams. None of them won the world cup but they inspire millions to find a football boot and go out and play the beautiful game

    29. N M on

      With or without a WC he is the GOAT, no one comes close.
      Goals, assists, playmaking, dribbling, the complete package.

    32. Ronaldo Jr ⚽️ on

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    35. Sankento on

      Yes. Both he and CR7 will be defined by it. If Messi wins it, he will be the undisputed GOAT. Maradona is a God in Argentina because he led them to two consecutive WV finals winning one. Messi will never overtake his place if he doesn't win one.

    39. The Commenter on

      A world cup would just separate him from his rival in Ronaldo. Only thing it's useful for is fanboy arguments so no I don't think it's defined by world cup but rather by his brilliant skill along with his greatest rival

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