Lionel Messi’s World Cup form continues to draw praise, with Spain midfielder Pedri calling the former Barcelona star unique for sustaining such impact at 39 years old. Pedri believes no other player can match Messi’s level at this stage of a career, either for club or for country.
Messi is again leading Argentina from the front at the current World Cup, where the defending champions rely heavily on the captain’s goals. Messi has already scored five times in two matches at this tournament, taking the total to 18 and making Messi the top scorer in World Cup history.
Statisticians continue to track every goal. Earlier in the competition, Opta reported a landmark moment for Messi on social media, noting another record set on the global stage. Their
post marked the point at which he moved clear of every other player for total World Cup goals.
Lionel Messi has now scored more goals than any other player in World Cup history (17). pic.twitter.com/bcPKnmiwuAOpta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 22, 2026
Messi’s international achievements stand alongside a decorated club career that started in Barcelona’s La Masia academy. Many analysts already regard Messi as the greatest footballer of all time. Messi also crowned a long spell with Argentina by lifting the World Cup trophy four years ago.
Barcelona saw Messi progress from youth prospect to senior icon. During that period, Barcelona won 10 LaLiga championships with Messi involved, while the forward lifted the Champions League trophy four times. Those honours came across an era in which Messi carried a central role in almost every major Barcelona success.
Pedri shared a dressing room with Messi for only one season at Barcelona, before Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. That short overlap still shaped Pedri’s view of the Argentina captain. Pedri remembers training, matches, and close observation of Messi’s movement as key learning moments.
Speaking to DSports, Pedri explained that time alongside Lionel Messi in detail and stressed how much those sessions helped development. Pedri highlighted both Messi’s reading of space and the ability to make quick decisions in the final third before defenders can react or adjust positioning.
"I had the luck of being able to play and train with him and I enjoyed and learned a lot from him. Now, well, I enjoy him very much. I think that many times you see the game on TV, and if you just start looking at him, he is looking at where the free gap is or where he is going to be able to receive it alone.In terms of of quality, he is overflowing, he has more than all the others. He sees football a little before the others and knows where to be to score a goal. I think that what he does with the age he has, only he can do. "
Pedri’s comments underline how Messi’s vision and timing remain central to Argentina and still shape views among younger players. The Spain midfielder’s respect reflects a wider football debate, where Messi’s World Cup records and Barcelona honours continue to define arguments about all-time greatness.
