Atlanta keeps getting the Messi show. Lionel Messi scored his eighth goal of this World Cup during play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Downtown, moving into the lead for the Golden Boot, the award that goes to the tournament's top scorer.
Atlanta landed a marquee slate of matches as one of the World Cup's American host cities, and the crowds downtown have made the most of it. Getting one of the greatest players of all time finding the net repeatedly in your building is about the best advertisement a host city could ask for.
With the knockout rounds heating up, the Golden Boot race is one of the few individual storylines that can outshine the team drama. For now, Messi is out front, and a good chunk of his case was built right here.