Lionel Messi Is 39 and His World Cup Record Will Leave You Absolutely Speechless

Alright, 12s, we've wrapped up the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, and let me tell you, it's been a wild ride. We're heading into the knockouts, and if these first couple of weeks are any indication, we're in for some absolute fireworks. From historic moments to mind-blowing individual performances, this tournament has already delivered. And seriously, can we talk about Lionel Messi for a second? The dude is 39 years old and still out here shattering records that feel impossible.

Seriously, Is Messi Even Human? And The Moment That Stunned Everyone

You just have to hand it to him. Lionel Messi, at 39 years young, is proving why he's the G.O.A.T. again. He's bagged six goals in just two-and-a-bit games! He ripped a hat-trick against Algeria, fired in two more against Austria, and even came off the bench to score against Jordan. He's the first player in history to score in seven straight World Cup games, leaving Miroslav Klose's record in his dust. The man is still chasing his second straight tournament, and honestly, who's gonna stop him? But it wasn't just the legends making noise. The Best Moment of the group stage? Hands down, it's Cape Verde and their 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha. This guy didn't even turn professional until he was 25 and just got released by some second-tier Portuguese side. Yet, he absolutely stood on his head, holding the European champions Spain in their opening fixture! At the final whistle, cameras caught Vozinha in tears, the magnitude of it all hitting him. He became a viral sensation, his social media follower count shooting into the millions. He even reflected on it, saying, "I cried because I grew up with my grandparents. Unfortunately, they were not here. They died a few years ago. They were everything for me, everything for my life. And also because of my mum. She didn’t manage to be here because of the

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visa. Because of the money you have to pay for the visa, we didn’t manage on time. I would like her to be here." That performance helped Cape Verde make the knockouts on their World Cup debut. Goosebumps, right?

The Game of the Tournament and Why France Is Scary Good

For pure, unadulterated drama, Algeria against Austria was it. This final group game was a total seesaw, with both sides facing real jeopardy. Algeria came from behind not once, but twice, to equalize. Then, in stoppage time, Riyad Mahrez put Algeria ahead for the first time, a goal that looked like it would dump Austria out. But nope, Austria wasn't done. Three minutes later, Saša Kalajdžic headed home a 96th-minute leveller. The place went nuts! Austria rescued their tournament and sent Iran packing. It was the first time in World Cup history that a team fell behind in the 90th minute or later and still avoided defeat. You gotta love this sport! As for the Best Team? France made Group I, which everyone thought was super tough, look like a walk in the park. Les Bleus went 100 percent, scoring ten goals. They beat Senegal convincingly, then just blitzed Iraq, and even swept aside a second-string Norway squad. That frontline of Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Desire Doue, and Ousmane Dembele is just unfair. Mbappe and Dembele each have four goals, and Olise's already racked up three assists. Good luck stopping those guys. The biggest disappointment? Turkey. Every tournament, predictors call them a "dark horse," and every tournament they just… disappoint. With players like Arda Guler, Kenan Yildiz, and Hakan Çalhanoğlu, they should have done way better. What a missed opportunity. So, the group stage is done, and the knockout rounds are about to kick off. Every game from here on out is do-or-die. No second chances, no draws. Let's see if Messi can keep up this unbelievable run and if France's firepower is truly unstoppable. You know I'll be glued to every single second!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.