Messi's Last World Cup Has One More Mountain to Climb Tonight
Argentina-Switzerland, 9pm ET. The hat trick against Egypt. The record chase. The finish line in sight.
This is what Messi does in knockout rounds. Down 2-0 against Egypt. Hat trick to complete the comeback. 20 career World Cup goals. And tonight he plays for a semifinal spot against a Switzerland team that hasn't given up.
Switzerland beat Colombia on penalties to get here. They defend well. They don't give you easy chances. They're exactly the kind of team that could frustrate Argentina for 90 minutes and steal it on a counter or in a shootout.
But I keep coming back to the 86th minute against Egypt. Messi had already scored twice to tie it. The comeback was alive but not complete. And in the 86th minute, he found it. The hat trick goal. The winner. The moment that separates the very good from whatever Messi is.
He's 39 years old. This is his last World Cup. He has 20 career goals in the tournament — one ahead of Haaland's 19. The all-time record is a live race. And tonight, in Kansas City, he gets at least one more chance.
I've got Argentina at 0.65 to win this match and Messi at 0.62 to score. Switzerland is dangerous. But Messi in a knockout round, chasing records, with the finish line in sight? I'm not betting against that.