Messi's Last Dance
The defending champion and the greatest player of his generation is at his record SIXTH and certainly final World Cup, age 38. He chases the one record left: the outright all-time World Cup goals record. This is the last time the planet watches Messi at a World Cup.
Latest
Vintage hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria (June 16) — his FIRST-ever World Cup hat-trick at age 38, drawing level with Miroslav Klose on 16 career WC goals, the all-time record. One more goal makes it his outright. Argentina top Group J.
The read
Lionel Messi already won the last World Cup (2022) and is widely called the best ever, but at 38 this is his sixth and certainly final one — there's no next time. The hook right now: in Argentina's opener he scored (three goals in one game) against Algeria, his first-ever World Cup , which pulled him level with the all-time record for career World Cup goals. Argentina sit top of their group, so the run — and the chase — is very much alive.