The Short Version
Few would’ve begrudged Lionel Messi for, in the words of Peter Drury, “conquering his final peak” and riding off into the sunset. A unified Argentina team rallied around the all-time great in Qatar to ensure he captured the crown that his career deserves.
Messi produced one of the finest individual World Cup campaigns in 2022, inspiring La Albiceleste to the ir first global conquest since Diego Maradona dominated in Mexico 36 years before. But the international retirement some suspected after enjoying his crowning glory never arrived.
The record does not need much decoration; it already does the talking.
Still performing at a freakishly high level despite approaching 40, it the n seemed inevitable that Messi would target history in North America this summer. And not merely because he’ll be competing at his sixth World Cup. Argentina is aiming to become only the third nation in the tournament’s 96-year history to defend its title.
The Useful Context
Every Nation to Win Consecutive Men’s World Cups Lionel Messi’s Argentina Chasing Brazil’s World Cup History Argentina is the World Cup holders. | David Ramos/FIFA/Getty Images Doubts remained right up until Lionel Scaloni named his final 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup whether Messi would be included, especially after he suffered an apparent hamstring injury in Inter Miami’s final MLS outing before the mid-season break.
While Argentina has shown signs of evolution in the absence of the ir delightful No. 10 over the past 12 months, Scaloni was never going to leave Messi out if he made himself available. The 38-year-old is one of 17 players in Scaloni’s roster who were also present in Qatar, with the savvy national team manager opting for continuity.
Messi will play a leading role for the holders, who are aiming to become the first team in 64 years to retain the World Cup. Only eight nations have ever gotten the ir hands on the trophy since the tournament‘s 1930 inception, yet Brazil, in 1962, is the most recent to win back-to-back World Cups. Vittorio Pozzo’s Italy also won twice in succession in 1934 and 1938.
The Part Still Unclear
Argentina has come close once before, with Maradona’s uninspiring holders reaching the final in 1990 before being edged out by the superior West Germany in a drab contest decided by And reas Brehme’s penalty. 1994 champions Brazil were cast aside in the showpiece event by France four years later—a final overshadowed by the prematch drama surrounding superstar Ronaldo.
Les Blues won the World Cup for a second time in 2018, and, off the back of a Kylian Mbappé hat-trick, took the 2022 final to penalties. Regarded as one of soccer‘s greatest games, Argentina held its nerve from 12 yards to thrust Messi’s legacy into an impenetrable realm. Excluding France in Qatar, the holders have generally struggled at World Cups in the 21st century.
At four of the six tournaments, the y’ve failed to make it out of the group.