A photograph capturing Lionel Messi at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium during the World Cup has captivated fans worldwide, with many hailing it as the best sports photo of the tournament. The image, taken by Getty photographer Julian Finney, shows the Argentinian icon preparing to take a corner, surrounded by thousands of spectators.
Social media users reacted with widespread praise for the picture. Comments included "Goosebumps. What a scene," "This is the greatest photo to come out of this World Cup - Sick!" and "worthy of putting on a wall if ur a messi fan." One user declared it "one of the most beautiful picture of the tournament. Sports photo of the year in my opinion," while another simply stated, "The best Photo ever."
Messi, who recently turned 39, has been a standout performer in the current World Cup. He has scored eight goals, tied for the most in the tournament with France's Kylian Mbappe. Earlier in the competition, Messi became the World Cup's all-time leading scorer, though Mbappe is close behind.
Argentina advanced to the semifinals on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Switzerland, with Messi assisting the opening goal. The team is now set to face England in a semifinal match.
Speaking after the quarterfinal win, Messi reflected on the upcoming match against England. "Everything I have seen and remember [about Argentina vs. England from 1986] is from videos and images that Argentinians constantly watch and relive," he said. "But I think this group is used to playing football matches regardless of the opponent. Obviously, playing against England is special because they are a powerhouse, and matches against powerhouses are always special."
He added, "Personally, it's the first time I'm going to play against them. I've played against everyone except England, so it will be nice for that reason too. And we'll experience it for what it is: a World Cup semifinal against a powerhouse, a great team, and we'll try to arrive in the best possible shape to compete again."
