Messi at 39 — still playing World Cup football after his 2022 redemption

When Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar in 2022, many thought it was the perfect ending to the greatest individual career in football history. But Messi didn't stop. At 39 years old, he's suiting up for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup in North America, defying every expectation about athletic decline.

Messi's 2022 triumph was itself a redemption story. He had lost the 2014 final to Germany and endured years of criticism that he couldn't win the big one for his country. His performance in Qatar — including two goals in one of the greatest finals ever played against France — silenced every doubter.

Now in 2026, Messi isn't the same explosive dribbler he was at 25. But his vision, passing, and football intelligence remain unmatched. He broke Miroslav Klose's long-standing record of 16 goals to become the all-time leading World Cup scorer, and holds the record for most World Cup appearances. Age has slowed his legs, but not his mind — or his ability to find the net.