Messi Hints at Possible 2030 World Cup Return After Five-Goal Tournament Start

Even at 39, Lionel Messi remains the focal point of Argentina's forward line. He has found the net in every goal his side has scored in the competition to date — five in total — and that run has brought fresh speculation about how long he will keep playing.

Not long ago, the Argentina skipper stated plainly that he did not expect to feature at the 2030 World Cup. Pressed on the matter again, he struck a noticeably softer tone. The next edition will span Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with opening fixtures also scheduled in Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. Messi stopped short of committing, offering only that "we'll see what happens" — neither a firm pledge nor a closed door.

That pattern is nothing new. Since leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup crown, he has repeatedly acknowledged the strain on his body and the open question of when he might step away. He has since added a Copa América title and pushed further into the record books, including becoming the tournament's all-time leading goal scorer.

Off the pitch, his stature at home keeps rising. Patagonia now hosts an 85-foot statue of him in Cutral Co. In the current campaign, his finishing has carried Argentina into the knockout stage. La Albiceleste meet Jordan in Dallas on Sunday as they aim to top Group J.