Lionel Messi became the greatest goalscorer in World Cup history at the age of 39.
With 5 goals in 2 matches at the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Messi officially broke the tournament's all-time scoring record and left open the possibility of participating in his 7th World Cup.
At 39, when many of his contemporaries have moved on to coaching or enjoying retirement, Lionel Messi is still commanding the admiration of the entire football world. The 2026 World Cup is not a stage to "pay tribute" to a legend whose career is nearing its end, but rather a place where El Pulga can continue to assert his status as a king with performances of the highest caliber.
An unprecedented record at the 2026 World Cup.
After just the first two matches at the biggest football tournament on the planet, the Argentine superstar has already bagged five goals. These are two performances that far exceed even the most demanding expectations. Messi continues to prove, with every step, that age is sometimes just a meaningless number on paper.
The superb hat-trick against Algeria and the exquisite brace against Austria are the clearest evidence of his undiminished killer instinct. With a total of 18 goals across all tournaments, Lionel Messi officially surpassed his predecessors to become the greatest goalscorer in World Cup history. This incredible performance not only propelled Argentina to great heights but also brought moments of immense satisfaction and joy to M10's fans.
The dream of a 7th World Cup in 2030.
Currently, Messi shares the record of six World Cup appearances with Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) and Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico). However, with his current devastating form, experts and fans are beginning to believe in an improbable scenario: Messi will participate in the 2030 World Cup, becoming the first player in history to appear in seven editions of the tournament.
In a recent interview in the technical area, when asked about the possibility of continuing to contribute, Messi shared openly:"I will continue for a while longer. As long as I can give my best, feel physically fit, and can still compete and help my teammates... I will continue to play."Notably, his contract with Inter Miami runs until 2028, by which time he will be 41 years old.
The caution of a legend
Despite the high expectations, El Pulga (El Pulga) maintained a measured attitude when discussing the distant future. When pressed by reporters about the possibility of appearing at the 2030 World Cup, he replied:"I don't know. Honestly, I'm not thinking about it right now; it seems quite far off... But as I said, I'm living one day at a time and focusing on the present.".
This response reminded many of the period after the 2022 World Cup. At that time, after lifting the gold trophy in Qatar, Messi also stated that the 2026 World Cup was too far-fetched a goal and that he only wanted to focus on the Copa América. However, reality has proven otherwise: he not only participated but is also leading the race for the "Golden Boot" at this year's World Cup.
With a genius who knows how to overcome all physical limitations, anything is possible. Even when he turns 43 in 2030, the image of Messi striding across the World Cup pitch remains a vision that the entire football world longs to see once again.