Living in Atlanta, this World Cup feels incredibly personal.

It's not just a game I'm watching on TV; the fact that the world's best players are competing at a stadium near the roads I usually travel is a strange feeling.

However, during yesterday's Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt, I kept wondering, "Did Coach Hong Myung-bo really think it would be advantageous for our country to face Egypt?"

Egypt played exceptionally well. They showed a surprising level of skill.

In the first half, Egypt scored first with a goal from Yasser Ibrahim in the 14th minute, followed by a second goal from Mostafa Ziko in the 67th minute, making the score 2-0.

They had taken a two-goal lead against the world champions, Argentina.

The most astonishing moment came next.

Early in the second half, Ziko seemed to score again, making it 3-0.

However, VAR intervened, and the goal was disallowed due to a foul in the buildup. This was a rather ambiguous decision, as the foul and the goal connection had a significant time gap.

Regardless, this marked the beginning of a complete shift in the game's momentum.

Egyptian players protested strongly against the decision, and Coach Hassan expressed his dissatisfaction to the referee, receiving a warning for making an X with his arms.

After the match, strong statements were made, such as "There was no respect for fairness" and "Our fate was in the hands of the referee."

However, if we look at it objectively, world-class teams do not crumble under such chaos. Egypt only needed to maintain their two-goal lead.

In fact, Messi was not perfect either. He took a penalty kick he earned in the first half, but it was saved by the Egyptian goalkeeper.

This marked his second missed penalty in this tournament. It's a rare record in World Cup history, considering he had over a 75% success rate.

For an average player, this might shake their confidence. But Messi was different.

What people remember after the match is not the missed penalty, but his contribution of one goal and one assist.

In the 79th minute, Messi's cross was headed in by Cristian Romero, igniting the spark of a comeback.

Just a few minutes later, Messi connected with a non-stop shot from a poorly cleared ball.

The ball hit the fingertips of the goalkeeper and crossed the goal line, completely changing the atmosphere in the stadium.

Watching that moment, I felt again why people still call Messi the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time).

He is not a player who never fails, but rather the one who gets up the fastest after a failure. That is what makes a truly great player.

Then, in stoppage time, Lautaro Martinez's cross was calmly finished by Enzo Fernandez, completing the comeback with a final score of 3-2.

In just over ten minutes, they demonstrated the resilience of a world champion.

Watching this match, I realized something else. Argentina is not as perfect a defensive team as one might think.

Especially in the early stages of the game, they often gave up space under strong pressure.

In fact, it is true that Egypt dominated the game for over 70 minutes.

But soccer is ultimately decided by the ability to maintain focus for 90 minutes, the power to regain momentum in shaky moments, and the presence of a player who does not miss a crucial opportunity.

Argentina excelled in that aspect.

And Messi is the player who lifts the team in difficult moments on the big stage, which is why he is considered the GOAT.

Lionel Messi has participated in six consecutive World Cups, starting from the 2006 World Cup in Germany, followed by South Africa in 2010, Brazil in 2014, Russia in 2018, Qatar in 2022, and North America in 2026.

In the 2022 Qatar World Cup, he led Argentina to victory after 36 years, completing the final piece of his career puzzle. He won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player (MVP) and scored two goals in the final, leaving a historic performance.

His ability to save the team in difficult moments is the biggest reason why countless soccer fans call him the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time).

Considering the records and victories he has achieved on the biggest stage of the World Cup, along with his consistency, Messi can be regarded as a legendary player who will forever remain in soccer history.

The record of missing a penalty will eventually fade into statistics over time.

However, the leadership and presence that led the team from a two-goal deficit to the quarterfinals will be remembered for a long time.