Messi is one match away from winning the World Cup, and so is France. As we were well into the World Cup I wrote a post with a few paragraphs about how football doesn't owe anyone the World Cup and that You either win, or you don't. Messi has gone the distance along with his team while being the best of his team in one game, and a very close second in another. But, is that enough?

Well, the answer doesn't matter because the question is wrong and that's because

The Rule is Wrong

In the 1970s and 1980s, this rule came out that a player needs to win the World Cup to be considered the best. The rule became all about how 7 games or less determine a player's GOAT status. Aside from the fact that this makes David Villa the best player of all time, there are other reasons why that rule is wrong.

Maybe during the days of Pelé that was a justified rule, less so during Maradona's days, in fact, some leagues were already received to be tougher, including the Seria A, which by the way, Maradona didn't win "single-handedly", neither did he the World Cup, but that's a discussion for another time as the point I am trying to illustrate here is that in the current day and age, club football is the toughest.

As exciting as the World Cup has been this year, and it has been the best I have ever seen, how does it compare to the Champions League? Messi himself plays in Paris Saint-Germain, a team that includes Argentina's biggest strength, France's biggest strength, and Brazil's biggest strength, still that team isn't really among the favourites to win it. That's how competitive and tough club football is.

The club football scene is so competitive and rough that international football is treated like a waste of time with many players showing up to just register or even fake injuries to avoid going. The World Cup, despite being the biggest spectacle, can't even determine the best player of the year. How many people consider Diego Forlán to be the best player of 2010? So for it to determine the greatest of all time is a joke.

82,205 < 90 ?

Messi has played over 82,205 minutes, to put all of that under judgement or throw it in the toilet if his team doesn't win in the latest 90, or 120 minutes is a crime.

Even if it was a final, it's a football game, anything can happen like what happened during this World Cup. An unintentional penalty, three corners becoming all goal, a weak ball going into the goal thanks to deflection, some players underperforming, injuries, and any other random factor that decides any match. Every game is independent of the game before, so it's wrong to summarize Messi's 82,205 minutes using the last 90 minutes.

As far as people are concerned, the debate still won't be over, but having Messi win the World Cup would only serve to silence a few people. Messi's place in history is saved no matter what. It should illegal to doubt Messi's abilities throughout his career. Messi is the reason why millions started watching football now, and his retirement will be the reason that millions stop watching football. My own father started watching football because of Messi at the age of 53. Messi is at a level that can't be compared.

There's No Debate Anymore

Let's say that Higuain had scored in the 2014 final against Germany and Argentina won, would that have changed how Messi is viewed? If yes, why? Let's say that on Sunday, Argentina win the World Cup thanks to a Julián Álvarez hat trick, all assisted by Enzo Fernández, would that make Messi the GOAT? What if Messi scores a hat trick but France wins by four goals?

The point of these questions is to point out the silliness of the argument that Messi needs the World Cup to establish himself as the GOAT. Why is Messi's fate and historical legacy in the hands of the other players? After all, Argentina could win thanks to an Álvarez goal without Messi's help. And they could lose even if Messi scores four goals, Maradona style.

So, there's no debate anymore. If you believe Messi isn't the best then I seriously doubt these extra 90 minutes will convince you otherwise as Messi has already played his best games against Real Madrid, against Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich and Manchester City, and he's won finals against Sir Alex' Manchester United. I seriously doubt Messi will have a performance that he hasn't done before but in a better way.

In Conclusion

Usually, I write a few paragraphs here to tie my post in a bow. But, I honestly believe Messi's imprint on football is summed up perfectly by the Argentinian reporter in the video below.