Messi Didn't Score, But Argentina Keep Making History — and the Model Believes in Them
Julián and Lautaro did the damage, Messi reached 10 World Cup assists. Argentina's back-to-back dream is alive — and the model is backing them.
It wasn't him who found the net this time — and it didn't matter one bit.
Lionel Messi was the last to leave Arrowhead Stadium, held back by a doping control, and the last to clear the mixed zone. No goal, but a smile on his face. According to Olé, it was he who set up Alexis, taking his tally to 10 World Cup assists — the outright record in that all-time statistic. And yes, he is still the competition's all-time top scorer, with 21 goals, per the same outlet.
The night belonged to the boys who once had his poster on their bedroom wall. Julián Álvarez unlocked a tight game with a golazo, and Lautaro Martínez sealed it to ease the suffering of the Argentine fans — who were back celebrating in the streets, as Olé reported.
"Este grupo no se cansa de hacer historia," Messi told Olé before boarding the bus to dinner. The quote says it all.
The run of nine consecutive World Cup games with a goal came to an end, but what Argentina are building goes far beyond any individual streak. For the fifth time — across Copa Américas and World Cups — the national team will play every match of a tournament under their number 10. First to arrive, last to leave: a concept that has become part of the culture at Ezeiza.
Golmetria's model gives Argentina a 23.6% chance of lifting the trophy — the highest of any nation. England are next at 15.3%. The market, however, sees England as slight favourites, with an implied probability of 13.3% against Argentina's 9.1%.
The next step comes against Switzerland, and Messi himself acknowledges the level needs to rise. But Argentina are alive, intact, and with the greatest player in history on the pitch. Who would want to face this side in the quarter-finals?