After the consecration of the Argentine national team as world champion in Qatar 2022, there were many personalities and athletes who surrendered to Lionel Messi. For all of them, as expressed on social networks, Messi is “The GOAT”. But what does this term mean?
For some time many people have been using, especially on social networks, the goat emoticon or emoji to refer to Leo Messi. The relationship that the footballer has with this animal is nothing more than the acronym in English that comes from the use of the word goat (GOAT). “Greatest Of All Time”, the abbreviation of which is GOAT, translates as The best of all time, this is how Messi is considered, as other times they have also considered Pelé, Maradona or Cristiano Ronaldo.
The word “GOAT” was used decades ago by the American press to refer to the appearance of local athletes who marked an era. They used it for boxer Mohamed Ali, basketball player Michael Jordan, golfer Tiger Woods, among others. In those moments each of them was the GOAT of their sport, that is, the best of all time.
A few years ago, Messi was encouraged to pose with a goat (GOAT) in the ‘Paper Magazine’ publication, as a nod to his nickname.
In football, the use of the term American dates back to 2017 when various publications used the word GOAT to describe Messi’s season with Barcelona.
Following Argentina’s world title, many celebrities referred to Messi as the GOAT of the World Cup.
Barack Obama, former US president, also singled out Messi above all: “Congratulations to Argentina and the GOAT, Lionel Messi, on your incredible World Cup victory.”
Pedro, who also lifted the World Cup with Spain in 2010 and who coincided with Messi at Barcelona, surrendered to the Argentine. “Congratulations to the greatest. You deserve it, Leo Messi!! GOAT,” he wrote.
“It has been an absolute privilege to watch Lionel Messi for almost two decades. Moment after moment of mesmerizing football and astonishing joy. It is a gift from the football gods. I am so glad he won the highest accolade in our sport Gary Lineker posted on Twitter .
Andy Murray also added an opinion to open up the discussion. “Is Messi the greatest athlete of all time? He just forgets football. What a man.”
Other repercussions of Messi GOAT on social
Source: Clarin
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.