It has been nearly four years since Lionel Messi etched his name into soccer immortality by lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy with Argentina in Qatar 2022, an achievement that capped what many thought would be the perfect final chapter of his legendary international career. Now, just months away from his 39th birthday, the Argentine icon is set to make history once more as he prepares to compete in a record-breaking sixth World Cup in North America, chasing an unprecedented back-to-back tournament victory that no other Argentine captain has pulled off in more than half a century.
Messi’s 2022 campaign was nothing short of iconic: seven goals, three assists across seven matches, including a clinical brace in the unforgettable final against France, and a coolly converted penalty in the decisive shootout that secured Argentina’s third World Cup title. After that historic win, Messi himself admitted he could not have asked for a better ending to his international journey. “Obviously I wanted to finish my career with this. I can’t ask for any more,” he said in the immediate aftermath of the Doha triumph, a comment that fueled widespread speculation he would hang up his international boots soon after.
But fueled by his enduring love for the game and a desire to continue competing as a world champion, Messi chose to extend his international career, a decision that has been widely celebrated by the Argentine camp. Head coach Lionel Scaloni has repeatedly emphasized that no replacement can ever fill the void left by arguably the greatest player to ever step onto a soccer pitch. “There can’t be. There won’t be. There won’t be an heir to Messi, for sure,” Scaloni told outlet Flashscore in September, making clear how critical the 38-year-old remains to Argentina’s title hopes.
Critics have questioned whether Messi still has the stamina and elite edge he displayed during his peak years in European soccer. After an uneven two-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain, Messi left Europe in 2023 to join Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, meaning he no longer competes at the highest club level week in and week out; his last win in a UEFA Champions League knockout tie stretches all the way back to 2020. But the Argentine legend has shown he still has the golden touch in MLS: he helped Inter Miami lift the MLS Cup last year, and has already notched 13 goals in 16 appearances for the club in 2026. A minor hamstring injury that forced him off during a recent match against Philadelphia Union is the only question mark over his fitness ahead of the tournament, and he is on track to lead Argentina into their opening group clash against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16.
Messi’s journey to this historic sixth World Cup began all the way back in 2006, when he made his World Cup debut as a teenager in Germany. He went on to captain Argentina to the 2014 final in Brazil, where they suffered a heart-breaking extra-time loss to Germany. Since Qatar 2022, he has added more international silverware to his cabinet, lifting the Copa America title on U.S. soil in 2024, and finished as the top scorer in South American World Cup qualifying. He is already Argentina’s all-time top goal scorer and most-capped player, and is just two matches away from hitting a remarkable 200 international caps – a milestone he could reach even before the World Cup kicks off, when Argentina plays pre-tournament friendlies against Honduras in Texas and Iceland in Alabama.
The 39th birthday of the Argentine legend falls just three days before Argentina’s final group stage match against Jordan in Arlington, Texas, capping a historic milestone in a tournament that is widely expected to be his final World Cup. Teammate Julian Alvarez, the 26-year-old Atletico Madrid forward who was part of the 2022 title-winning squad, says the entire camp is aware of the significance of the moment. “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,” 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.”
While the entire soccer world is focused on Messi’s final act, Argentina’s deep squad means the team does not have to rely solely on their ageing talisman. Alvarez himself is a world-class talent, and the squad also features a host of elite young players including Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, who won the Serie A golden boot, midfield stars Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister, defensive leader Cristian Romero, and star goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. As proof of the team’s strength even without Messi, Argentina secured a marquee 4-1 home victory over bitter rivals Brazil in qualifying with their captain sidelined.
Alvarez says the team’s ambition remains the same as it was in 2022, regardless of Messi’s age or status. “As an Argentinian, the excitement is always there and we always want to be crowned champions. There’s no reason for this time to be any different,” he added. For soccer fans around the world, the upcoming World Cup will be a chance to say goodbye to a legend – and to see if he can pull off one more historic miracle.