Lionel Messi, who would turn 39 during the upcoming World Cup, remains a key figure in Argentina’s bid to defend the title. Everyone thought after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, Messi may have played his last match in international football.
The Barcelona legend produced one of the greatest World Cup campaigns ever, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in seven matches. He also scored twice in the unforgettable final against France in Doha and calmly converted his penalty in the shootout as Argentina lifted the trophy.
“Obviously I wanted to finish my career with this. I can’t ask for any more,” Messi said after that triumph, which many believed would be the perfect ending to his remarkable career.
However, Messi also admitted at the time that he wanted to continue playing for a little longer as a world champion. That decision has now brought him to yet another World Cup.
The 2026 tournament will be Messi’s sixth World Cup, a record in itself. His decision to carry on has been a huge boost for Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who is grateful he does not yet have to think about replacing one of football’s greatest-ever players.
“There can’t be. There won’t be. There won’t be an heir to Messi, for sure,” Scaloni said in an interview with Flashscore in September.
While Messi is no longer at the peak of his powers, he remains a key figure for both club and country. Since leaving Europe in 2023 after two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, he has been playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
The Argentine star is enjoying another productive season, scoring 13 goals in 16 matches in 2026 after helping Inter Miami win the MLS Cup last year.
Provided he recovers fully from a minor hamstring injury that forced him off during a recent game against Philadelphia Union, Messi is expected to captain Argentina in their opening World Cup match against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16.
Since winning the World Cup, Messi has continued to add to his legacy. He captained Argentina to another major title at the Copa America in the United States in 2024 and finished as the top scorer in South American World Cup qualifying.
“I love playing football, and I’m going to do it until I can’t anymore,” he recently declared.
Messi made his World Cup debut as a teenager in Germany in 2006. He later captained Argentina to the final in Brazil in 2014, where they lost to Germany after extra time.
Argentina’s all-time leading scorer is also the country’s most-capped player. He is now just two appearances away from reaching the landmark of 200 international matches.
He could even achieve that before the World Cup begins, with Argentina scheduled to play friendlies against Honduras in Texas and Iceland in Alabama.
Argentina begin their World Cup campaign against Algeria before facing Austria and Jordan in Group J. The match against Jordan will take place just three days after Messi’s 39th birthday.
“We’re all fully aware that this could well be Leo’s last World Cup, given his age, but it’s his decision at the end of the day,” team-mate Julian Alvarez told FIFA.com.
“It’ll certainly make for a special World Cup and I don’t just mean for us, his team-mates and the Argentinian people, but for everyone who watches and follows him, given that he’s the best player of all time.
“He’s made a colossal impact the world over.”
