THE LOWDOWN — THE FULL HISTORY
THE RECORD
At 39, at a record sixth World Cup, Lionel Messi became the all-time leading World Cup scorer with 18 goals, passing Miroslav Klose's 16 after a hat-trick against Algeria and a brace against Austria. He also became the first player in over 50 years to score in six consecutive World Cup matches.
THE GHOST
Before Messi there was Maradona, with the Hand of God and the Goal of the Century. Messi was called the next Maradona and chased that comparison for twenty years before winning the World Cup in 2022.
THE LAST DANCE
Argentina, the defending champions, were through to the Round of 32 and chasing the first back-to-back titles since Brazil in 1962.
THE QUESTION
Messi or Maradona: who is Argentina's greatest?
NOTE
Some scenes are reconstructions.
MORE FROM WORLD CUP STORIES
THE TERRACES — DISCUSSION
The argument also lives in the YouTube comments ↗.