MIAMI: Few imagined that three years after making the move to Miami, Lionel Messi would be leading Argentina’s charge to defend the title and smashing records at his sixth World Cup.
The 39-year-old returns to the Florida city he now calls home for a last 32 clash against the surprise package of the tournament Cape Verde on Friday after scoring six times in the group stages.
In doing so Messi became the all-time top scorer in World Cup history with 19 and is on a record seven-game scoring streak in the competition.
Many believed the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was headed for semi-retirement when he swapped top level European football for Major League Soccer after ending his long to wait to win the World Cup in Qatar.
But Messi has defied expectations, both with his impact on soccer Stateside and his ability to continue deciding games at international level.
