Argentina are just one game away from reaching a second consecutive World Cup final and a third in four tournaments. Old rivals England stand in the way in the semifinals, with Lionel Messi and Co. hoping to face Spain in Sunday’s showpiece.

Messi is in the midst of a sixth World Cup, tying Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for the most tournament appearances. In his previous five World Cups, he reached the final twice, with vastly different outcomes.

Messi’s long road to World Cup glory

The then-Barcelona playmaker won the Golden Ball, awarded to the tournament’s best player, at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he scored four goals and provided one assist in seven games. However, none of those contributions came in the final, which Argentina lost 1-0 to Germany after extra time.

For much of Messi’s career, it seemed as if the World Cup simply might not be his “thing.” That all changed in 2022.

Prior to then, Messi and Argentina had been eliminated in the quarterfinals in both 2006 and 2010, suffered heartbreak in Rio de Janeiro in 2014, and exited in the round of 16 in 2018.

The attacker had managed six goals and five assists in 19 World Cup appearances, respectable numbers for almost anyone else but below the standard expected of him.

Qatar changed everything

At the age of 35, everything began to click in Qatar.

For the second time in his career, Messi won the Golden Ball, but this time he also got his hands on the prize he really wanted and thought he might never win: the World Cup trophy. His seven goals, along with three assists, included a double in the final against France, which Argentina won on penalties to be crowned world champions for the first time in 36 years.

Most assumed Messi would bow out at the very top and never grace the World Cup stage again. How wrong they were.

Another record within reach

So far in 2026, the veteran superstar has scored an astonishing eight goals and created two more in just six games, becoming the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer in the process.

Now, he is hoping to lead Argentina to a third World Cup final in 12 years and become the first player to captain his nation to victory in back-to-back World Cup finals.

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