World Cup 2026: ‘That’s why he’s the king’ – Lionel Messi breaks English hearts

It is easy to forget Messi, then at Barcelona and aged 29, actually retired from international football in 2016.

He had lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and three Copa America finals.

Since reversing that decision he has won the Copa America twice.

When Messi – then of PSG – lifted the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, it felt as if the final piece of the jigsaw of his career was complete.

Many considered that the final thing missing from the argument over the best player ever – with many considering fellow World Cup winners Pele and Diego Maradona the greatest.

“I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is really very gratifying,” he said before the 2022 final.

“There are a lot of years from this year to the next one. I don’t think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant.”

And when he left Europe the next year to join Inter Miami in the MLS, it seemed like he was going to wind down.

Even during last year’s Fifa Club World Cup, which he played in, it was far from clear if he would be involved this summer.

But here he is, still seemingly unstoppable – even though his game has changed.

Before the England tie, he had walked 47% of the distance he covered in this tournament, the highest percentage of any outfield player.

Tactically he has reinvented himself at least five times, says Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, who wrote a biography on Messi.

Messi has now scored or assisted in 13 consecutive matches for Inter Miami and Argentina.

If he gets involved in a goal in Sunday’s final against Spain, it will equal his record set in 2011 of 14 in a row.

He will also become only the second player after Cafu to play in three World Cup finals.

Surely that will be his final World Cup game? After all, he turns 43 in 2030.

But maybe at this stage we need to stop presuming anything when it comes to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.