Lionel Messi has once again etched his name into soccer history, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic has now weighed in with a remarkable assessment following the Argentina captain's latest World Cup heroics.

Lionel Messi has once again etched his name into soccer history, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic has now weighed in with a remarkable assessment following the Argentina captain’s latest World Cup heroics. While the former Sweden striker’s full comments have attracted widespread attention, the reason behind his glowing praise only became truly clear after Messi produced another unforgettable performance on the biggest stage.

The latest chapter in Messi’s legendary international career came as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in the 2026 World Cup, with the reigning world champion securing another victory thanks to two goals from its captain. The performance ensured Argentina booked its place in the knockout stage while adding yet another historic milestone to Messi’s extraordinary career.

Messi arrived at the tournament already holding countless records, but his display against Austria elevated him into a category of his own. Although the Inter Miami forward missed an early penalty after Argentina was awarded a spot-kick following a VAR review, he refused to let that setback define his afternoon.

Instead, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner responded with two goals, taking his World Cup tally to 18 and becoming the outright leading goalscorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history. He moved beyond Germany legend Miroslav Klose and also surpassed Marta’s overall World Cup total of 17 goals, standing alone at the top of the all-time rankings.

The record-breaking display followed his sensational hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina‘s opening group match, meaning Messi has scored five goals in his first two games of the 2026 tournament. Just days before celebrating his 39th birthday, he continues to deliver performances that defy expectations.

Ibrahimovic explains why Messi stands above everyone else

According to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Messi’s latest achievements have finally ended the long-running debate over soccer’s greatest player: “I don’t think there’s any debate left now. When you become the all-time top scorer in World Cup history, win the thing, dominate it across different generations, and keep producing at 38 years of age, what more do people want?”

The former Milan, PSG, and Barcelona striker believes Messi’s longevity separates him from every other soccer icon. Rather than focusing on one spectacular tournament, Ibrahimovic pointed to nearly two decades of consistent excellence at the World Cup.

“We spend years comparing him to everyone else, but even the greats before him can’t match the complete body of work. Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, whoever you want to name, they were all brilliant, but Messi’s numbers, longevity, and trophies put him in a category of his own“, he told FOX Sports.

Ibrahimovic leaves ego aside with honest Messi admission

The Swedish legend eventually left his ego aside with an honest Messi admission after the five-goal World Cup start. “Five goals in two games… I have zero goals in two World Cups. So, I’m happy for him, and I hope he continues. His birthday is in a couple of days, so let him enjoy, because we’re all enjoying him by seeing him play so, amazing, just amazing, no words.”

Ibrahimovic was equally impressed by the way Messi reacted after missing his first-half penalty against Austria. Rather than allowing the disappointment to affect him, the Argentina captain continued demanding possession before eventually deciding the match with two clinical finishes.

“People can talk about Argentina as a collective, their tactics and the way they control games, but there always seems to be one constant when they need something special, Lionel Messi,” Ibrahimovic explained.

“He missed a penalty earlier in the match, and for a lot of players, that can affect their confidence. But that’s exactly why Messi is different. He never hides, he keeps demanding the ball and keeps putting himself in positions to decide games”, the 44-year-old ex-star added.

After a difficult season with AC Milan, Christian Pulisic is preparing to compete in the 2026 World Cup. With this in mind, the 27-year-old star is getting ready to play the second game in the tournament for the United States men's national soccer team.

Christian Pulisic managed to become as the cornerstone of AC Milan. Despite the lack of strikers, he managed to shine under Massimiliano Allegri during the first half of the season. However, he experienced a notable decline in form in 2026, going many matches without scoring. Following this inconsistent season, the 27-year-old star looks to debut with the United States Men’s National Team at the 2026 World Cup.

Christian Pulisic next game with USMNT is scheduled for Thursday, June 25, facing Turkiye in the SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California in the 2026 World Cup. As the hosts of the event and having put in a stellar performance against Paraguay and Australia, they could aim for a third consecutive victory by relying on the offensive style of play that defines them.

After already completing the 2025–26 season with AC Milan, Christian Pulisic will have a period of rest following the 2026 World Cup. However, the USMNT star will not return to action until August 2026, when he begins preseason. As announced by the Rossoneri, they will travel to Jakarta to face Chelsea FC at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Saturday, August 8.

Even though Pulisic began the season as AC Milan‘s best player, he suffered a notable drop in form. After playing 34 matches, he managed to score only 10 goals and provide 4 assists, going through the second half of the season with almost no goal contributions. Because of this, the 27-year-old star shined in these friendlies with the USMNT to get back into peak condition ahead the World Cup.

Pulisic faces career-defining test at World Cup 2026

Throughout the 2025–26 season, Christian Pulisic’s future was a rather controversial topic. With only one year remaining on his contract with AC Milan, he reportedly attracted interest from numerous Premier League clubs. However, his inconsistent end to the season raised serious doubts. With this in mind, the 27-year-old star has a major opportunity to shine at the 2026 World Cup and clear up uncertainty about his future.

Due to his poor end to the season, the reported interest from numerous Premier League clubs gradually faded. In addition, Pulisic found himself in a worse position to renegotiate his contract extension with the Rossoneri. Because of this, he could look to shine with the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup, proving his true potential. With this, Christian could again be considered as AC Milan’s conerstone, recovering his all-around impact.

Casemiro appears set to begin a new chapter of his career after agreeing to join Inter Miami, a move that would see the experienced Brazilian midfielder continue playing at the highest level alongside Lionel Messi after years of sharing the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Casemiro appears set to begin a new chapter of his career after agreeing to join Inter Miami, a move that would see the experienced Brazilian midfielder continue playing at the highest level alongside Lionel Messi after years of sharing the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo. The transfer has generated excitement for more than just its soccer implications, as it would also place the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star into a unique piece of soccer history.

With Messi already leading Inter Miami’s ambitious project and Ronaldo having shared some of Casemiro‘s greatest triumphs at Real Madrid, the transfer represents another landmark moment in the Brazilian’s decorated career. While the official announcement is still pending, reports indicate that all major details have already been agreed.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano: “Inter Miami complete deal to sign Casemiro as new midfielder, here we go! Verbal agreement sealed with all parties involved and all formal steps resolved, now waiting to sign and announce the Brazilian.”

The reported agreement follows months of speculation linking Casemiro with Major League Soccer. Although several clubs, including LA Galaxy and teams from the Saudi Pro League, were credited with interest, Inter Miami ultimately won the race for one of the world’s most accomplished defensive midfielders.

Casemiro is expected to arrive as a free agent following the expiration of his Manchester United contract. The proposed three-year deal would reunite him with several familiar faces from Spanish soccer, including Messi, Luis Suarez, and Rodrigo De Paul, while strengthening an area the Herons have sought to improve since Sergio Busquets’ retirement.

Casemiro set to join an exclusive soccer club

Beyond the transfer itself, the Brazilian veteran’s move carries another remarkable significance. By joining Inter Miami and becoming Messi’s teammate, he will become part of an elite group of just 27 players who have played alongside both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo during their senior careers.

The list includes some of the biggest names of the modern era, such as Angel Di Maria, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Paulo Dybala, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Keylor Navas, Achraf Hakimi, Deco, Miralem Pjanic, Arthur Melo, Lisandro Martinez, Alejandro Garnacho, and Henrik Larsson, among others.

No.	Player	Played with Lionel Messi at	Played with Cristiano Ronaldo at
1.	Angel Di Maria	Argentina / PSG	Real Madrid
2.	Gerard Pique	Barcelona	Manchester United
3.	Sergio Ramos	PSG	Real Madrid
4.	Paulo Dybala	Argentina	Juventus
5.	Gonzalo Higuain	Argentina	Real Madrid / Juventus
6.	Carlos Tevez	Argentina	Manchester United
7.	Achraf Hakimi	PSG	Real Madrid
8.	Keylor Navas	PSG	Real Madrid
9.	Deco	Barcelona	Portugal
10.	Vitinha	PSG	Portugal
11.	Henrik Larsson	Barcelona	Manchester United
12.	Martin Caceres	Barcelona	Juventus
13.	Miralem Pjanic	Barcelona	Juventus
14.	Arthur Melo	Barcelona	Juventus
15.	Nelson Semedo	Barcelona	Portugal
16.	Andre Gomes	Barcelona	Portugal
17.	Danilo Pereira	PSG	Portugal
18.	Nuno Mendes	PSG	Portugal
19.	Renato Sanches	PSG	Portugal
20.	Francisco Trincao	Barcelona	Portugal
21	Pablo Sarabia	PSG	Real Madrid
22..	Alejandro Garnacho	Argentina	Manchester United
23.	Lisandro Martinez	Argentina	Manchester United
24.	Gabriel Heinze	Argentina	Manchester United
25.	Fernando Gago	Argentina	Real Madrid
26.	Ezequiel Garay	Argentina	Real Madrid
27.	Gonzalo Martinez	Argentina	Al-Nassr

Only a handful of players have managed to share dressing rooms with both of the sport’s defining superstars, whether through club soccer, international competition, or both. Casemiro’s arrival in Miami now places him among that select company after years of partnership with Ronaldo at Real Madrid and his impending collaboration with Messi in MLS.

Players such as Pique and Larsson were among the earliest members of this exclusive group, while later transfers involving Messi and Ronaldo created more opportunities for teammates to experience both sides of the greatest modern rivalry.

Why the move makes sense for both sides

For Inter Miami, Casemiro offers experience, leadership, and tactical balance, qualities that complement a squad already filled with attacking creativity. His ability to shield the back line and dictate the tempo should provide greater stability in midfield.

For Casemiro, the transfer offers the chance to compete in a growing league while joining one of soccer’s most ambitious projects. Playing alongside Messi adds another fascinating chapter to a career already defined by sharing the field with some of the greatest players in history.

If the remaining paperwork is completed as expected, Casemiro’s arrival will represent far more than another high-profile MLS signing. It will also see the Brazilian enter one of soccer’s most exclusive groups, becoming the 28th player to have shared the pitch as a teammate with both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, further cementing his place among the game’s modern greats.