Lionel Messi may be making his case as soccer’s greatest of all time with a stunning World Cup run so far, but in Kansas City another Messi, a goat, is winning fans by munching weeds along the Missouri River.
Born just before the tournament, Messi the goat has been dressed in an Argentina jersey as his namesake racked up five goals in two matches — a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City and a double in the 2-0 victory over Austria.
Those performances reignited a familiar debate over who is the greatest player of all time — GOAT, in sports shorthand — with Messi often listed among the likes of Pele and Diego Maradona.
Argentina have made Kansas City their base, staying near the Berkley Riverfront, where the younger, horned Messi is part of a herd clearing invasive vegetation in a 55-acre industrial area slated for a billion-dollar redevelopment.
The project led by Port KC blends public cleanup funds with private development and is anchored by CPKC Stadium, home to the National Women’s Soccer League’s Kansas City Current.
