Argentina are just one victory away from making football history as they prepare to face Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. A win would make Lionel Scaloni’s side only the third nation to successfully defend the World Cup, matching the achievements of Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962).
Much of Argentina’s hopes once again rest on captain Lionel Messi, who continues to deliver outstanding performances despite approaching the later stages of his career. Victory on Sunday would see him become the first captain in history to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy twice.
Messi has enjoyed another remarkable tournament, scoring eight goals in seven matches and moving within one goal of Kylian Mbappé in the race to become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. His performances have played a crucial role in guiding Argentina back to the final four years after their triumph in Qatar.
The 39-year-old’s international career has already been filled with dramatic moments. After briefly retiring from international football in 2016, he reversed his decision and has since led Argentina to some of the nation’s greatest achievements, including the 2022 World Cup title and another appearance in the 2026 final.
Sunday’s final will mark Messi’s 34th World Cup appearance, extending his record as the player with the most matches in the tournament. It also raises fresh questions about whether he will continue with the national team beyond this competition.
Some observers believe the Argentine star could even target the 2030 World Cup, which will feature opening matches in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay before the tournament continues in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. If he does, Messi would be 43 years old and could become the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has described Messi as the greatest footballer in history and praised his influence on the team. He admitted he does not know whether the final will be Messi’s last international match, saying the decision belongs entirely to the captain.
Messi’s impact at the World Cup extends far beyond goals. Against England in the semi-finals, he provided two assists to help Argentina complete a comeback victory, taking his World Cup assist tally to 12—the highest ever recorded in the competition. Ten of those assists have come during knockout matches.
Throughout his career, Messi has broken numerous World Cup records. He is the all-time leader in tournament appearances, one of only two players to feature in six men’s World Cups, the only player to win two World Cup Golden Ball awards, and the only footballer to score in every knockout stage on the way to winning the tournament in 2022.
He has also set records for consecutive World Cup matches with either a goal or an assist, consecutive World Cup games scored in, and now becomes only the second player after Cafu to appear in three World Cup finals.
Whether Sunday’s final marks the end of Messi’s World Cup journey or another chapter in his extraordinary career remains uncertain. What is certain is that another victory would further cement his place among football’s greatest legends.
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