It had to be Lionel Messi, it had to be on this day and perhaps it even needed to be in Dallas too. History was created in the way he knows best, a clinical left-footed flourish setting him out on his own as the World Cup’s highest goalscorer of all time. An occasion that already throbbed with an epic, cinematic quality had its moment for the ages and the genius who served it up will surely provide even more. A first golden boot would not be the worst present for an icon who turns 39 on Wednesday.
Nobody should expect anything less because Messi has no idea how to stop. Four minutes into added time this match was dying, a competent but blunt Austria showing no sign of dampening the mood. This was already Messi’s day, goal number 17 coming late in the first half and rarely looking anything but the winner in an otherwise unremarkable contest. Well, make that 18. There has never been a finer player because there has never been a brighter footballing mind, one that has been thoroughly exercised across a career spanning more than two decades but simply refuses to dull.
