Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice has expressed his admiration for Lionel Messi, describing the Argentine superstar’s performances at nearly 39 years old as “truly very special” and “unbelievable.”
Speaking after Messi’s latest standout display, Rice said watching the legendary forward remains an incredible experience both as a football fan and as a fellow professional player. His comments came after Messi produced another memorable performance during Argentina’s June 22 World Cup clash in Dallas.
Softfootball understands that Messi has now become the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history as of Monday, June 22, 2026. The Argentina captain reached the milestone after scoring a stunning brace against Austria, taking his World Cup goal tally to 18 and surpassing Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16 goals.
The achievement adds another chapter to Messi’s extraordinary international career, which has already included lifting the World Cup trophy in 2022 and continuing to deliver on football’s biggest stage years later.
Rice highlighted the uniqueness of witnessing Messi’s longevity, consistency, and ability to perform at the highest level despite his age. For many players and fans around the world, Messi’s continued brilliance has become a celebration of football excellence.
As Argentina continue their 2026 World Cup campaign, Messi’s performances are once again proving why he remains one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
