Dear Editor,

Lionel Messi, no doubt, is the greatest football player in history.

I was never of the belief that you need to win a World Cup to prove greatness. Suppose Argentina had lost the finals through penalties? With the exceptional performance of Messi, would people blame him or still say he’s not great because of not winning a trophy?

Nevertheless, he did win a World Cup title, which ends the greatness argument in many people’s minds. Messi is clearly the greatest club player of all time, according to his statistics.

He has won seven Ballon d’Ors, the most in history.

Currently Messi is on 1,003 games, with 793 goals and 350 assists. He’s currently on 98 goals for his country Argentina, that’s a record for any South American player, including Pelé.

Messi’s accomplishments at the World Cup are as follows: 26 games in five World Cups, 13 goals, and six assists. He played in the World Cup quarter-finals in 2006 and 2010, was a runner-up in 2014, and a winner in 2022.

Meanwhile, fellow countryman Diego Maradona played in 21 games in four World Cups, scored eight goals, and provided eight assists. He played in the finals in 1990 and was a winner in 1986.

Maradona played in a total of 681 games and scored 344 goals. Messi has 42 trophies compared to Maradona’s 12. Messi is currently one behind Dani Alves the record holder. Sometimes statistics alone shouldn’t be used to judge greatness but dominating a sport over 15 years is greatness.

Even though Messi said he won’t play in the 2026 World Cup, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s called out of retirement at age 39 to defend Argentina’s World Cup title. The future debate now should be Messi versus Pelé, not Messi versus Maradona and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Teddylee Gray

Ocho Rios, St Ann

teddylee.gray@gmail.com