World Cup final 2026: Is this the last time we’ll see Argentina’s Lionel Messi?

If Messi decides to play for Argentina by 2030, he will become the oldest outfield player to play in the World Cup at the age of 43. Unless, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo chooses to continue for Portugal.

Not only would Messi add a new record to his long list, he would also have the chance to play in one of the centenary matches in Argentina at the start of the next World Cup.

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague doesn’t think this is the last fans will see of Messi at the World Cup.

“Even if you hear that this is the end, I doubt it, but we will see. I only see him in the national team, just because he enjoys it,” he said.

“I don’t see him saying he’s at Inter Miami in MLS, still performing, and then that’s it, he’s going to play the rest of his career at Inter Miami.”

Messi’s 2026 World Cup has been nothing short of sensational. He scored eight goals in seven matches; He was two goals behind Mbappe, the tournament’s top scorer, and a series of masterful performances took Argentina to the final.

Argentina coach Scaloni hailed Messi as the best player ever and said: “He’s history, he’s a legend. I’m proud, he’s the best player the world has ever seen and to get to the final at the age of 39 is incredible and that’s why I said we should enjoy it.”

“We still miss Diego Maradona but Messi is still with us so we have to enjoy him.

“I have no idea if this is Leo’s last game, you’ll have to ask him. We haven’t discussed it.”

His showings in North America continue Messi’s resurgence at the end of a very remarkable career at World Cups. 15 of his 21 goals in the tournament have come since his 35th birthday.

Messi, who won the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, showed that he has the motivation to continue in 2026. The question is whether this will continue until 2030.

“I feel like he hasn’t had his last word yet,” Balague said. “He finishes 120-minute matches in 39 minutes.

“He covered 6.5km in the first 90 minutes against Cape Verde and walked 62% of that.

“You can add a little more walking. The passion is still there. All this means he will not leave the national team.”

There’s also the matter of Messi playing in front of his home crowd at the World Cup.

Six host countries will participate in the 2030 World Cup. While the majority of the matches will be played in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, at least one match will be played in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. A world-class game in front of an Argentinian fan might be too much for Messi to resist.

Messi had hinted that the 2022 final would be his international swan song.

“I’m very happy to finish my World Cup journey in the final and play my last match in the final. It’s really gratifying,” he said ahead of the 2022 showcase.

“There are so many years from this year to the next. I don’t think I can do it. It’s great to finish it this way.”

It became clear that this was not the case. So, no matter what is said after the 2026 final, keep your eyes on 2030.