Ibrahimović: I don't think there's a GOAT debate anymore

Former Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimović believes there's no longer any debate about Lionel Messi's status among the greatest footballers of all time, especially after the Argentina captain's exceptional start to the World Cup in North America.

Messi scored twice in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria, setting a new record for most goals scored in World Cup finals with a total of 18. Ibrahimović suggests that this latest achievement by the legendary Argentine has settled the long-standing GOAT debate. He also lauded Messi's consistent performance over nearly two decades at the highest level.

"I don't think there's any debate anymore. When you become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, win the tournament, dominate across different generations, and continue to perform like this at 38 years old, what more do people want? We spend years comparing him to everyone else, but even the greats before him can't match all his creations. Pelé, Maradona, Cruyff, whoever you name, they were all brilliant, but Messi's stats, longevity, and trophies put him in a separate category," Zlatan Ibrahimović told FOX Sports.

He also drew a comparison to his own World Cup record. "Five goals in two matches. I didn't even score a single goal in two World Cups. I'm happy for him and I hope he continues this way. His birthday is in a few days, so let him enjoy it, because we all enjoy watching him play so incredibly. I just have no words. People can talk about Argentina as a collective, their tactics, and how they control games, but there always seems to be one constant when they need something special – Lionel Messi," added the 44-year-old Ibrahimović.