Messi Keeps 2030 World Cup Dream Alive as He Becomes World Cup’s All-Time Top Scorer

Lionel Messi has left the door open for a possible appearance at the 2030 World Cup, further cementing his status as the greatest goalscorer in the tournament’s history.

The Argentine superstar, who is currently leading Argentina’s title defense at the 2026 World Cup in North America, recently surpassed Germany’s Miroslav Klose to reach 18 career World Cup goals across six tournaments.

The GOAT Refuses to Say Goodbye

Now 39 years old, Messi shows no signs of planning his international retirement. When asked about the possibility of playing in the 2030 World Cup — which will mark the tournament’s 100th anniversary — the Inter Miami forward was cautious but optimistic.

“I don’t know. The truth is, I’m not thinking about that right now. It seems a bit far off, but as I’ve said, I’m living one day at a time and focused on the present,” Messi told reporters.

He added that his future depends entirely on how he feels physically: “Yes, I will continue for some time, as long as I can contribute, feel good, and help my teammates… I will keep playing.” His words have given fans hope that they could still see him competing at age 43.

Record-Breaking Start to 2026

Messi has been in sensational form. He has scored all five of Argentina’s goals in their first two group matches. A brace in the 2-0 win over Austria saw him break Klose’s record as the all-time leading World Cup scorer. Earlier, he also became the oldest player in history to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match.

Reflecting on his milestone, Messi remained humble even after missing a penalty in the same game: “The truth is that it is spectacular how it happened. Today I had the penalty that could have increased the score, but if I had scored it, maybe I wouldn’t have scored the other two. I’m happy with the result.”

Remarkable Fitness at 39

While most players retire long before 39, Messi continues to defy age. On his birthday, he shared a video of himself doing perfect pull-ups during training, highlighting the intense physical work that keeps him at the highest level. Many believe this dedication could allow him to follow in the footsteps of legends who competed into their 40s.

Former England striker Gabby Agbonlahor even suggested that if Messi made a surprise move to the Premier League with Aston Villa, he could lead them to major trophies.

Focused on Defending the Title

For now, Messi and Argentina are fully concentrated on defending their World Cup crown. They have already qualified for the Round of 32 with a game to spare in Group J. Coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to rest key players in the final group match against Jordan.

Scaloni emphasized the strong team spirit: “We believe it’s the group that gets through both the good and the bad moments. Being beside a friend always makes things better.” With Messi in record-breaking form and Argentina looking strong, they remain one of the favorites to lift the trophy again in New York.