Fans will be asking whether Lionel Messi has one more World Cup left in him after all following his latest start turn in qualifying.
With emphasis on the 'turn' after Argentina's ace was seen spinning two of his Peruvian opponents inside-out at the Estadio Nacional de Lima. The 36-year-old scored twice to help fire his country five points clear at the top of CONMEBOL's standings in World Cup qualifying, extending their pristine streak to four wins from four thus far.
And he looked good doing it, too, as was shown in one clip where Messi defied the odds to come out laughing. That was after Peru attempted to double up their coverage of the football icon, only to be left embarrassed in his wake.
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Two players pressed the Inter Miami icon in his own half as Messi picked up the ball from early substitute Lucas Martínez Quarta. But just when it appeared the veteran had been painted into a corner, he demonstrated ridiculous control and composure to emerge in acres of space.
Fans on social media were left crying 'stop it' as the mercurial magician turned this way and that, digging out every inch available before galloping down the line unimpeded. The sequence served to illustrate just how potent his powers remains even at international level, and fans are by no means ready to see him leave anytime soon.
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"[The] GOAT for a reason," hailed one supporter left in awe by Messi's actions. And a second commented: "He makes it look so easy."
"Messi is a wizard," wrote a third proponent of the MLS star, who is being backed to win a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or this year. "He's too good."
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Messi's brace in Lima was that much more emphatic after Brazil lost 2-0 in Uruguay, less than a week after drawing 1-1 against Venezuela. The Selecao's first World Cup qualifying defeat since 2015 means they now sit five points adrift in the CONMEBOL pecking order, putting Messi & co in the driver's seat to qualify first for the next World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Brazil's woes were compounded when former captain Neymar suffered a knee injury just before half-time during Tuesday's defeat. But while one former Barcelona talisman was in the pits, ex-mentor Messi continued to turn heads in his latest star display.
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