Argentina booked their place in the quarterfinal stage of the FIFA World Cup by defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout.
Lionel Messi starred once again, winning the Man of the Match award for a performance that saw him produce one of the best assists of the World Cup, along with a goal in the second half.
Although Messi primarily made the headlines for his comments in the post-match presser, the Argentine’s performance against the Dutch team did not go unnoticed either.
In fact, one of the Netherlands’ finest players in Frenkie de Jong did not shy away from praising Messi, even labelling him as the greatest of all time.
“Yes, of course. He’s the greatest football player of all time,” de Jong said (h/t Actualite-Barça) when asked about Messi’s blistering performance in the quarterfinals.
Along with a goal and an assist, Messi also converted a spot-kick in the shootout. He was also a livewire throughout the game, offering creative essence and leadership in the final third, with even de Jong and co. struggling to keep a close track of him.
Netherlands’ exit from the World Cup means both De Jong and Memphis Depay should return to the Barcelona camp. The Catalans will certainly be delighted with the duo’s performances in the World Cup, with Depay, in particular, in contention to earn a move elsewhere in the January transfer window.
De Jong, on the other hand, has further established himself as a key element in the Barcelona midfield. Especially with Sergio Busquets having his contract expiring at the end of the season, the onus will be on the Dutchman to become the leader of the Barça midfield in the years to come.
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