July 19, 2026, could forever become a special date in football history. Every World Cup final is an historic occasion, but when the final kick of the ball is taken on Sunday, one has to wonder if that won’t be Lionel Messi’s last dance at a World Cup.

Messi has demonstrated incredible passion for playing football — not just being in the game, but being on the pitch, with the ball. At 39, he remains one of the best players in the world.

He’s largely disregarded the option of becoming a coach, so it’s likely that extending his playing career remains his only way to keep doing what he loves.

Yet, the signs of a potential farewell have been there for a long time.

The 2030 World Cup, hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, is set to have at least one game hosted in Buenos Aires, as part of FIFA’s decision to honor the inaugural 1930 World Cup with three games in Uruguay — where the 1930 tournament was held — Argentina and Paraguay.

The prospect of playing a World Cup game in his home country is perhaps the one thing that could entice Messi to stick around, but the question of whether he wants or even can is an entirely different one.

The Rosario-born star will be nearing 43 years old by the time the ball rolls for the first time in 2030. 

While Messi has shown his game style doesn’t need the blistering pace he had in his 20s, the question of whether he’ll be able to stay fit for long enough periods of time has already proven a challenge for 2025.

After Argentina took on Venezuela in September 2025 in its second-to-last game in the World Cup qualifiers, Messi was adamant that........

© Buenos Aires Herald