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Is this Lionel Messi’s swan song?
The 39-year-old superstar striker is in the midst of his sixth World Cup with Argentina (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026), with the country defending the World Cup (2022) and Copa América (2024). Argentina will face England in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday afternoon.
As for Messi, the Argentine legend said in June that he would continue to play until he “can’t do it anymore.” When asked about playing in the 2030 World Cup, Messi said he would play “as long as he can contribute, feel good physically and help his teammates.”
Through Argentina’s six games at the 2026 World Cup, Messi has scored a total of eight goals – tied with French star Kylian Mbappé for the most in the tournament – and two assists. Messi had a hat trick in Argentina’s June 16 win over Algeria and a brace in its June 22 win against Austria. He has scored in five of the team’s six games.
During the six World Cups he has appeared in for Argentina, Messi has scored a combined 21 goals and eight assists.
In addition to playing for the Argentina national team, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and 13-time Domestic League champion has spent the last four seasons with Inter Miami in MLS (he appeared in six games in 2023), averaging 24.5 goals and 13.5 assists per game. season from 2024-25, while scoring 12 goals in seven games so far. 2026; the current MLS season was paused during the World Cup. Messi and Inter Miami won the 2025 MLS Championship.
Messi and Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo are the only two players to have appeared in six World Cups.
How to watch England vs. Argentina
