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Lionel Messi continues to captivate audiences across the globe with his incredible play. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner became the all-time top World Cup goal-scorer this summer — in only the group stage of the tournament.
DaMarcus Beasley played in four World Cups for the United States and faced other legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku. The former winger was a guest on USA TODAY Sports' "Sports Seriously" soccer podcast with National Soccer Writer Jon Arnold and former USWNT player Lori Lindsey. Beasley struggled to find words to describe Messi, who turned 39 this month.
"What else can you say about Messi? What other words can you say about Messi?" he pondered. "His brilliance, how he carries himself on and off the field, he's always fit as well, being at that age. What he's doing right now is incredible, it's remarkable."
Messi won his first World Cup in 2022, which elevated him in the greatest-of-all-time conversation. Beasley said that he is thankful Messi plays for Inter Miami so that the United States can witness his talent, but that there is something special about how he plays for his national team.
"He's basically putting Argentina, again, on his back and leading them to I'm sure a deep run in this World Cup," he said. "I'm glad he's in the States and we get to see him week in and week out, but at the same time, him with Argentina, it's different.
"The aura that he has around that team and for his country, you get goosebumps when you see him walking out of the tunnel going to the warmups in the stadium. It's something that I've never seen before. But for him to be able to do what he's doing now, leading the World Cup with five goals, all the goals that Argentina has scored, at 39, it's incredible what he's doing."
Arnold pointed out that even Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has said no words can describe Messi. Beasley again emphasized that his talent is out of this world.
"There's nothing else to say," he said. "... He's an alien. He is not normal. What he does on the field is not normal."
You can watch the full episode of "Sports Seriously" with Beasley below or on USA TODAY Sports' YouTube page and wherever you listen to podcasts (search: Sports Seriously).
Beasley didn't have a hard time formulating thoughts on the United States, who won Group D in only two matches. It was their first time winning a group since the 2010 World Cup. The side then dropped their group finale against Turkey.
"Every match matters. As a player, as a competitor, you want to win, I'll start with that," he said. "But in the bigger picture, the game doesn't mean much because they've already qualified. ... Some people forget that the goal was to get out of the group and the goal was to win the group and we've done that. So we've achieved the first step in what we expected this team to do."
He expanded on how a loss in a nearly-meaningless game in a World Cup is easier to shrug off. He said that the World Cup itself should be enough motivation to stay focused and hyped.
"I don't think it's that difficult ... to go from a loss to a knockout stage at a World Cup," he said. "I can see if it's in a different situation, but if you need motivation, if you need any kind of extra energy or focus to play in a round of 32 match in a World Cup, then you shouldn't be with the U.S. national team or any World Cup team, to be honest."
The United States faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 on Wednesday, July 1 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former USMNT player DaMarcus Beasley has no words for Lionel Messi's greatness
Continue reading...
DaMarcus Beasley played in four World Cups for the United States and faced other legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku. The former winger was a guest on USA TODAY Sports' "Sports Seriously" soccer podcast with National Soccer Writer Jon Arnold and former USWNT player Lori Lindsey. Beasley struggled to find words to describe Messi, who turned 39 this month.
"What else can you say about Messi? What other words can you say about Messi?" he pondered. "His brilliance, how he carries himself on and off the field, he's always fit as well, being at that age. What he's doing right now is incredible, it's remarkable."
Messi won his first World Cup in 2022, which elevated him in the greatest-of-all-time conversation. Beasley said that he is thankful Messi plays for Inter Miami so that the United States can witness his talent, but that there is something special about how he plays for his national team.
"He's basically putting Argentina, again, on his back and leading them to I'm sure a deep run in this World Cup," he said. "I'm glad he's in the States and we get to see him week in and week out, but at the same time, him with Argentina, it's different.
"The aura that he has around that team and for his country, you get goosebumps when you see him walking out of the tunnel going to the warmups in the stadium. It's something that I've never seen before. But for him to be able to do what he's doing now, leading the World Cup with five goals, all the goals that Argentina has scored, at 39, it's incredible what he's doing."
Arnold pointed out that even Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has said no words can describe Messi. Beasley again emphasized that his talent is out of this world.
"There's nothing else to say," he said. "... He's an alien. He is not normal. What he does on the field is not normal."
You can watch the full episode of "Sports Seriously" with Beasley below or on USA TODAY Sports' YouTube page and wherever you listen to podcasts (search: Sports Seriously).
DaMarcus Beasley speaks on United States' performance at 2026 World Cup
Beasley didn't have a hard time formulating thoughts on the United States, who won Group D in only two matches. It was their first time winning a group since the 2010 World Cup. The side then dropped their group finale against Turkey.
"Every match matters. As a player, as a competitor, you want to win, I'll start with that," he said. "But in the bigger picture, the game doesn't mean much because they've already qualified. ... Some people forget that the goal was to get out of the group and the goal was to win the group and we've done that. So we've achieved the first step in what we expected this team to do."
He expanded on how a loss in a nearly-meaningless game in a World Cup is easier to shrug off. He said that the World Cup itself should be enough motivation to stay focused and hyped.
"I don't think it's that difficult ... to go from a loss to a knockout stage at a World Cup," he said. "I can see if it's in a different situation, but if you need motivation, if you need any kind of extra energy or focus to play in a round of 32 match in a World Cup, then you shouldn't be with the U.S. national team or any World Cup team, to be honest."
The United States faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 on Wednesday, July 1 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former USMNT player DaMarcus Beasley has no words for Lionel Messi's greatness
Continue reading...
