Lionel Messi was stoic, just moments after that final whistle blew on Sunday’s World Cup final. He stared off, sat on the field, and shook hands with Spain players, who all wanted to acknowledge his greatness amidst their own celebrations. But that calm facade vanished when he got his second-place medal after the crushing 1-0 loss. As he walked off the podium and faced the Argentina fans still in the stadium, Messi fought back tears. Seeing him like that, visibly emotional after what might be his final FIFA World Cup match, man, it hit hard.
A Legend’s Last Dance on the World Stage?
Those tears? They were absolutely earned. It’s tough to think of any athlete who has meant more to his country than Messi has to Argentina since Pelé led Brazil to those three World Cups. And looking ahead, it’s even tougher to imagine. Messi turns 43 in the summer of 2030, which is when Argentina co-hosts the next tournament. But an unprecedented seventh World Cup appearance feels highly unlikely. Seriously, what’s left for him to prove? Sure, chasing a second World Cup was the goal. Argentina wanted to be the first country since Pelé’s Brazil in ’58 and ’62 to win back-to-back. But if it didn’t happen in 2026, it’s almost certainly not going to happen in 2030.
GOAT Status Confirmed, Loss or Not
Honestly, Messi doesn’t need a second World Cup for his legacy. A win on Sunday would have made him indisputably the best men’s soccer player ever, but he probably holds that title even with the loss. Who else scores a hat trick when becoming the first player to ever play in six World Cups? Or challenges for the Golden Boot during a World Cup where he turned 39? He showed why he’s the G.O.A.T. this summer, with or without another trophy. Eight Ballon d’Or wins, 13 league titles, four Champions League wins, plus the 2022 World Cup and two Copa Américas? His resume is unmatched in modern soccer history. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo faltered at this tournament; Argentina barely makes it to the final without Messi. They might not even get past Cape Verde in the Round of 32! That’s how critical he is.
What’s Next for Leo?
After Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win, you couldn’t have blamed Messi for going out on top. He publicly waffled about playing in the 2026 tournament, even after becoming the biggest star to ever move to MLS when he arrived at Inter Miami in 2023. For now, his soccer future is definitely with Miami. After signing an initial three-year deal, Messi re-upped for three more seasons, taking him through MLS’ 2028 campaign. That contract will take him right up to a month shy of his 41st birthday. Will he keep playing after that? Maybe. But for now, we’ll watch him work his magic on the club circuit.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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