Messi’s Record-Breaking ‘Last Dance’ Moves to Semi-Finals as Argentina Chases Historic Repeat
The 39-year-old captain breaks scoring records as Argentina prepares for England clash.
Lionel Messi stands two matches away from a career-defining bookend as Argentina prepares for a semi-final clash against England on July 15. At 39, the Inter Miami forward has transformed this FIFA World Cup into a personal record-breaking tour, having already surpassed the long-standing scoring benchmark set by Germany’s Miroslav Klose.
The quest for back-to-back titles—a feat achieved only by Italy in the 1930s and Brazil in the 1960s—has seen Messi overcome early fitness concerns. Despite a muscle injury sustained during his final domestic appearances with Inter Miami, head coach Lionel Scaloni maintained a public stance of confidence. Scaloni told reporters ahead of the tournament that Messi “looked good” in training, emphasizing that the captain remains “fundamental” to the squad’s tactical identity.
Messi’s impact was immediate, netting a hat-trick in the opening 3-0 victory over Algeria to equal Klose’s record of 16 goals in finals. He subsequently moved clear of the German striker with a brace against Austria. While the veteran forward has shown flashes of mortality—missing penalties against both Austria and Egypt—his goal-scoring consistency has anchored Argentina through a grueling knockout bracket.
The path to the semi-finals required Argentina to navigate a high-scoring 3-2 victory over Egypt in the Round of 16 and a tense extra-time win against Switzerland in the quarter-finals. This resilience is supported by a squad that has remained largely intact since the 2022 triumph in Qatar. Scaloni has relied on a midfield engine room featuring Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez, while Lautaro Martinez continues to serve as the team’s secondary scoring threat.
Following an emotional final appearance on home soil in September 2025, Messi’s international career now enters its final act on North American soil. Argentina’s progression to the final four ensures that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will play the maximum number of games possible in his sixth and likely final World Cup appearance.
