Lionel Messi, at 39, is one win from becoming the first captain to lift the World Cup trophy twice. He has already called this Sunday's final 'the last tango' on Instagram, referring to his signature Adidas boots, and the question on every football fan's mind is whether this will be his last appearance on the biggest stage of all. Argentina face Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, and whatever happens, Messi's legacy is already secure — but the end of his international career feels suddenly, tantalisingly near.
Messi will play his 34th World Cup match in the final, his third World Cup final after 2014 and 2022. He has scored 21 World Cup goals in total, 15 of them across the 2022 and 2026 tournaments. In the 2026 edition alone, he has eight goals, just two behind tournament top scorer Kylian Mbappe. Argentina are aiming to become the third team to win successive World Cups, after Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962). Messi's 2022 victory in Qatar already cemented his place among the greats, but a second triumph would put him in a category of his own.
“Lionel Messi plays his 34th World Cup match in the 2026 final. Will he retire?”
Messi's relationship with the Argentina national team has been a rollercoaster. He retired from international football in 2016 after a Copa America final defeat, only to change his mind and return. Since then, he has led Argentina to glory in the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup. Now, at 39 and having recently signed a new contract with Inter Miami that keeps him at the club until 2028, the idea of international retirement — or full retirement — has become a live possibility. He posted on Instagram: 'What a journey we're having together, @adidasfootball… with 'The Last Tango'… Let's go for the final, let's go Argentina!!!' The phrase 'the last tango' is the name of his custom boots, but the symbolism is hard to ignore.
For UK readers, Messi's potential farewell matters because he is arguably the most famous footballer ever to play the game. His battles with Premier League teams in the Champions League, his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, and his sublime performances for Barcelona and Argentina have made him a household name even among casual British sports fans. England fans, after their team won the bronze medal match against France in a 10-goal thriller in this same tournament, will be watching Messi's final with a mix of admiration and bittersweet acknowledgement that a golden era is ending.
Q: Is Messi definitely retiring after this World Cup? Not yet confirmed. He hinted at it by calling the final 'the last tango', but Spanish football expert Guillem Balague said: 'Even if you hear it is the end, I doubt it … I just see him with the national side, simply because he enjoys it.' Messi himself has not made a formal announcement.
Q: Could Messi play in the 2030 World Cup? Technically, yes. If he continues with Argentina, he would be 43 and become the oldest outfield player to appear at a World Cup. Argentina co-host the 2030 tournament, with one match being played in the country. Balague noted that Messi enjoys being with the national team, so a cameo is not impossible.
Q: What records could Messi break in this final? He already holds the record for most World Cup appearances by a South American (34). If he scores, he could match or surpass Kylian Mbappe as the tournament's all-time leading scorer (Mbappe leads with 10 goals in 2026). He also has a chance to become the only man to captain a team to two World Cup titles.
What happens next depends on the final. If Argentina win, Messi may choose to go out on top. If they lose, the sting of defeat could push him to continue in 2030. His Inter Miami contract runs until 2028, so he will keep playing club football for at least two more years. Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni called him 'the best footballer the world has ever seen' and said 'we must enjoy him'. The world will be watching to see if this is truly the last dance.