Argentina stands on the edge of sporting greatness as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup final. Lionel Scaloni’s squad is attempting to become only the third nation to secure back-to-back titles, a feat previously achieved by Italy and Brazil. To overcome Spain and claim the trophy, the team relies heavily on the leadership of Lionel Messi.
Regardless of differing opinions on his legacy, Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes to ever play the game. A victory on Sunday would make him the first captain to hoist the World Cup trophy twice. After a lackluster start to his tournament career years ago, his recent performances have been extraordinary, helping him close in on Kylian Mbappe in the race for the all-time tournament scoring record.
Questions remain regarding his international future. Although he initially retired in 2016 before reversing his decision, the 2026 final marks his 34th tournament appearance. At 39 years old, some wonder if he will continue through to the 2030 tournament. Expert Guillem Balague suggests that Messi’s deep enjoyment of playing for his country makes a total retirement unlikely, noting that his physical conditioning and passion appear undiminished.
Furthermore, the 2030 World Cup includes host matches in Argentina, providing a potential stage for a home-crowd send-off. While Messi once signaled that the 2022 final might be his last, he has continued to perform at an elite level, accumulating a record 12 tournament assists and numerous individual honors, including two Golden Balls.
