Messi has not yet said for sure if he will continue his international playing career. Ahead of the World Cup Final, he posted twice on his Instagram account. One was a post of him wearing cleats that read “The Last Tango” on the bottom. The other was a message about playing for Argentina and what it has meant to him.

“The best part of all these years was never just the titles, but the journey itself. Sharing the day-to-day with this group, competing together, picking ourselves up during tough times, and enjoying every step of the way. Thank you to each of my teammates, the coaching staff, and everyone who works every day to ensure this national team remains a family. No matter what happens tomorrow, this group has already written a story that we will never forget, and that no one can erase”

Messi first played for Argentina at the 2006 World Cup. He made three appearances, with his first being off the bench as a substitute. In that tournament, Messi played in three matches and recorded one goal and one assist as Argentina reached the quarterfinals.

Advertisement

Overall, Messi’s World Cup career spans 34 games. He has played a total of 3,054 minutes and has scored 21 goals with 12 assists.

The forward is 39 years old. If he does intend to play in the next World Cup in 2030, he will turn 43 by the time the tournament begins.