Lionel Messi enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup carrying a legacy few can match but also confronting the challenges of age and injuries. The Argentine legend turned 39 this August and has dealt with multiple physical niggles in recent years, leading to expectations he may take a reduced or substitute role in the tournament [1, 2].
Messi won the World Cup with Argentina on December 18, 2022, at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, sealing a career-defining achievement after already claiming every major club prize and eight Ballons d'Or awards [1, 2]. Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni noted, "From a physical standpoint, things change, not only for Messi but for everyone. The fact that he has won (a World Cup) won’t change his innate competitiveness. But it’s true that it has given him complete fulfilment. There can be no doubting him now. He did it, and from here on in he can look at things with a fresh perspective" [1].
Messi has maintained a strong influence on and off the pitch in recent years, guiding Inter Miami to three trophies and becoming their all-time top scorer while also winning consecutive MLS MVP awards [1, 2]. In Argentina’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, he was the team's top scorer with eight goals in 12 games, demonstrating he remains a key contributor despite his age [1, 2].
Already Argentina’s youngest World Cup scorer at age 18, Messi also holds the record for most World Cup goals (13) and most appearances (26 matches), surpassing Diego Maradona’s eight goals in the tournament [1, 2]. This World Cup, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who is 41, are expected to become the first players to compete in six World Cups, highlighting a rare longevity at the game's highest stage [1, 2].
Jorge Valdano, a former Argentine footballer and commentator, captured Messi's mood ahead of the tournament: "You see the happiness that Leo has: he’s liberated" [1].
Messi’s status as Argentina’s greatest player is firmly secured. His ongoing participation in 2026 will test his physical limits but also offer the chance to inspire his team, potentially in a more symbolic or mentorship role. The World Cup matches begin November 2026, when the football world will watch how Messi’s remarkable career unfolds in its latest chapter [1, 2].