Two unique Lionel Messi stats are being widely shared online after the Argentina skipper ended his FIFA World Cup drought during the weekend.
Notably, Messi is the 1st player to beat Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe — the three other players who lay claim to the Greatest of All Time title in a final of a major football competition.
While Messi outfoxed Ronaldo in a Champions League title clash in 2009, he stunned Neymar in a Copa America final last year and Mbappe in the recent World Cup in Qatar.
Moreover, Messi is the only footballer in the history of the sport to have defeated the defending Copa America, European and World Champions in a row, having accomplished the feat by overpowering Brazil in the Copa America final last year, Euro winners Italy in the Finalissima earlier this year and 2018 World Champions France on Sunday.
As the twin facts gained traction on Twitter, netizens rushed to praise the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner for ending Argentina's over three-decade wait for a World Cup trophy.
"Man so many things need to go right just to win one of those things. This isn't basketball where 1 player has that big of an impact. Unless you are truly special. That being said, Messi has all of that and more, amazing," a fan wrote on Twitter.
"Hopefully this will silence those who still wonder who is the best player of our times. The world cup has answered that question. Messi is arguably the best player, you like him or hate him," another added.
"He's beaten all the goats of his time to become the undisputed goat," a third claimed.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, he was also Man of the Match in all those final games. That is true greatness," a fourth summed up.
Among other records, the former Barcelona forward became the first player ever to claim the Golden Ball award twice. He was named the best player of the tournament in 2014 too when Argentina lost to Germany in the final.
In addition to that, Messi became the first player in the 92-year history of the competition to score in each of the four knock-out matches of a World Cup, producing goals against Australia, Netherlands, Croatia, and France in the Round of 16, quarters, semis and final in that order.