He won it. He cried. He danced. He became the undisputed greatest player in the history of football. And then – because Lionel Messi never stops – he came back for more.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is Messi’s sixth. He shares that record only with Cristiano Ronaldo, his lifelong rival in the argument about the game’s greatest ever player. Messi will turn 39 during the tournament. He plays his club football in MLS for Inter Miami. He arrived in North America carrying a minor hamstring complaint, a nation’s hopes, and the weight of being the defending champion – Argentina are attempting to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup title.
No other stage could contain what this moment represents.
Who Is Lionel Messi?
Lionel Andrés Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina. At the age of 13, his family relocated to Spain after Barcelona agreed to pay for his treatment for a growth hormone deficiency. He never left. He spent 21 years at Barcelona, winning everything the game offers – 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies, seven Copa del Rey – before a brief, difficult period at Paris Saint-Germain and his current home at Inter Miami in MLS.
He has won the Ballon d’Or eight times – more than any other player in the award’s history. He has scored over 800 career goals in club football alone and holds every significant goalscoring record at Barcelona. He is the all-time leading scorer in La Liga history.
For the longest time, the one thing missing was a World Cup. Then came Qatar 2022.
Qatar 2022: The Final Chapter of the Argument
There is a photograph from the 2022 World Cup final that has already entered sporting iconography – Messi lifting the trophy in Lusail, his face a contradiction of exhaustion, disbelief, and joy. It was the moment that, for many, settled the debate.
He scored 7 goals in that tournament, including two in the final – one a penalty that gave Argentina the lead, another in extra time that sent the match into a shootout. He was named Golden Ball winner for the second time. Argentina won 4-2 on penalties. At 35, after 17 years of carrying the weight of a nation’s expectations, he finally had the one thing his career had been missing.
The fact that he is here again, four years later, at 38, is almost impossible to believe – and yet entirely consistent with the man.
Messi’s 2026 World Cup: Records Within Reach
Every game Messi plays in North America extends his own records. He already holds:
- Most World Cup appearances – 26 matches, surpassing Lothar Matthäus
- Most World Cup minutes played – 2,314
- Most goal contributions at the World Cup – 21 (tied with Pelé: 13 goals and 8 assists)
In 2026, a single goal or assist would give him the outright record for World Cup goal contributions, surpassing Pelé’s mark. He currently has 13 World Cup goals, three behind Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16.
He is the only player in World Cup history to have scored in every round of the tournament – group stage, round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final, and final.
Argentina begin their title defence against Algeria on 16 June – the day Messi becomes only the second player ever to start in six World Cups.
Argentina’s 2026 World Cup Campaign
Argentina are drawn in Group F alongside Iceland, Nigeria, and Ukraine. They are one of the co-favourites for the tournament, alongside France, Spain, and Brazil.
Coach Lionel Scaloni has managed Argentina since 2018 and guided them to their 2022 triumph. His relationship with Messi is one of profound mutual respect. When asked about Messi’s retirement plans ahead of this tournament, Scaloni was unambiguous: “I’ll do everything I can to make sure he’s there. For the sake of football, he has to be there.”
The squad around Messi is strong. Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, and Enzo Fernández represent a generation that has already tasted World Cup glory and will be desperate to repeat it. Argentina have the hunger of champions who know how to win.
The hamstring concern that briefly threatened Messi’s participation has been managed carefully. He was named in Scaloni’s final 26-man squad and is expected to be available from the first group game.
The Passing of the Torch
One of 2026’s most compelling subplots is the narrative that plays out around Messi and the next generation. Lamine Yamal – the Spanish teenager who was once photographed as a newborn in Messi’s arms – arrives at this same tournament as one of its other principal stars. The symbolism is almost too neat to be real.
Messi has spoken generously of Yamal’s talent. There is no bitterness, no defensiveness from the man who set the standard. If anything, watching a player of Yamal’s gifts emerge appears to give Messi pleasure – the satisfaction of knowing the game will be in good hands.
For South African fans at this World Cup – and there will be thousands of them watching from Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town – the draw has placed Bafana Bafana in Group C, meaning a direct Messi encounter is not on the cards in the group stage. But in a 48-team tournament with knockout rounds that could produce anything, nothing is impossible. The prospect of Bafana facing Argentina in the last 16 is the kind of World Cup scenario that gives a football-mad nation goosebumps.
Lionel Messi Quick Facts
- Full name: Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini
- Date of birth: 24 June 1987
- Age at 2026 World Cup: 38 (turns 39 on 24 June, during the tournament)
- Club: Inter Miami (MLS)
- Position: Right forward / attacking midfield
- Height: 1.70m
- World Cup goals / appearances: 13 goals / 26 appearances (records)
- International caps / goals: 187 caps / 109 goals
- Ballon d’Or wins: 8 (record)
- Major honours: World Cup 2022, Copa América (x3), Champions League (x4), La Liga (x10), Copa del Rey (x7)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lionel Messi playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Yes. Lionel Messi was named in Argentina’s final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He was managing a minor hamstring complaint ahead of the tournament but is expected to play from the group stage. He and Cristiano Ronaldo will become the only two players in history to appear at six World Cups.
How old is Messi at the 2026 World Cup?
Lionel Messi is 38 years old when the 2026 World Cup begins and turns 39 on 24 June 2026, during the group stage of the tournament.
What group is Argentina in at the 2026 World Cup?
Argentina are in Group F at the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Iceland, Nigeria, and Ukraine. They are the defending champions and one of the tournament favourites.
Can Messi win the 2026 World Cup?
Argentina are among the top favourites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A second consecutive World Cup title would make them the first nation to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962 and would arguably be the greatest achievement in Messi’s extraordinary career.
Will the 2026 World Cup be Messi’s last?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is widely expected to be Lionel Messi’s final World Cup. He turns 39 during the tournament. However, his coach Lionel Scaloni has suggested Messi could still target a Copa América in 2028 if he wished, meaning retirement from all international football may not come immediately after 2026.