Japan are without Kubo, Minamino, Mitoma, and Endo and somehow they're still playing like their full-strength squad. That's absolutely ridiculous. 😭
Japan are officially the dark horses of this FIFA World Cup man
Go well Asians 🇯🇵
It must be incredibly tough for Mbappé and Haaland, being at the pinnacle of football and in their physical prime, to realize that a nearly 39-year-old man enjoying his "retirement" in the United States is still a better football player than they are.
Mbappé and Haaland dropped braces. Messi answered with a hat-trick. At 38 years old, he's still reminding the next generation who runs the game. Greatness doesn't age—it evolves.
“Maybe this is Messi’s final match in the World Cup and also for his country”, said a commentator after France defeat in 2018.
…fast forward to 2026, he’s now:
🏆 Won the World Cup once
🏅 Joint all-time WC top-scorer
🏅 2022 WC Golden Ball
⚽️ 13 WC G/A since 2022
Almost 39.
Forget about his goals, forget about his assist, it's about everything else he does outside of that.
The ball stays close to his left foot, almost protected, as he glides past defenders with sharp feints and sudden changes of pace. He doesn’t rely only on speed. It's timing, balance, and that little pause before he explodes forward that makes him so hard to read.
There’s creativity in everything he does. A quick step-over, a smooth cut inside, a curling shot that feels effortless. When he has the ball, you sense control and imagination at the same time, he knows exactly what he’s doing, and the 18 year old is still playing with joy.
This is the best footballer in the world.