As a Chicago-based sports analyst with an eye for data and narrative, I’ve watched Messi’s career unfold like a meticulously choreographed algorithm. Now, with 25 FIFA international goals across four decades of global football—spanning World Cups, U-20 Championships, and the Club World Cup—his legacy isn’t just about stats. It’s about consistency, longevity, and the quiet revolution he’s built in an era obsessed with spectacle. This isn’t just a record; it’s a thesis on greatness.