Will the 0-4 loss to PSG in the round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 be the last time Messi will participate in a major tournament? There has been no official confirmation of his participation in the World Cup next year.
Messi needs to assess his own ability as the 2026 World Cup is approaching. And there is little better measurement than a knockout match against defending champions Europe.
It is unreasonable to expect a 38-year-old player to reach his peak form. In the battle between time and a player's form, time probably always wins.
Two and a half years have passed since the World Cup in Qatar, and we can hardly see Messi continuously reaching that level. But the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has shown that he can still influence the course of the match.
It is likely that the Argentina team and coach Lionel Scaloni can still find a way to ensure Messi will participate in the 2026 World Cup.
The relationship between Argentina's head coach and Messi has not changed. Scaloni took on the job as an interim manager after the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He is seen as a cheap temporary replacement, but still shows great ambition.
Scaloni has announced his intention to bring a new style to Argentina, based on a rapid transition. However, it is not a good idea for a team with Messi, and it started miserably in Copa America 2019. Things may not have gone as expected, but Scaloni was lucky to rely on a new "new Mek".
When in conflict with Barcelona, Messi seemed to consider the Argentina national team as his top priority. So what do you need to change? There has long been a sense that El Pulga's distant attitude has a terrifying impact on the rest of the team. But in 2019, there was a big difference.
Messi has transformed himself into a captain with a voice both on and off the pitch. Argentina lost to Brazil in the semi-finals, but they emerged from that year's Copa with a renovation, both tactically and mentally.
When the final whistle of the 2021 Copa America final rang out, when Messi finally won the noble title for his country, his teammates ran to Messi to celebrate.
Meanwhile, the 2022 World Cup is a masterpiece for Scaloni in changing the system depending on the opponent and making personnel adjustments. Of course, Argentina still tries to maximize Messi's abilities.
Argentina soon realized that the tournament would be very difficult and would not have as much possession as they expected. Therefore, Lautaro Martinez had to give the striker position to Julian Alvarez, a player who could replace Messi in a continuous run.
But now? Is it worth sacrificing too much for the benefit of a player?
The worst moment Argentina has had to endure since the 2022 World Cup came at the time of their historic victory. In November 2023, Argentina defeated Brazil 1-0 at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. This was the first time Brazil lost a World Cup qualifier at home.
However, after this victory, there was another reason for Scaloni to worry. It is true that Messi is not 100% fit, but he did not leave much of an impression. El Pulga was substituted with just 15 minutes left.
Scaloni has built his team around Messi and is starting to wonder if the formula still works.
But time has a way to turn unimaginable things into possible. And just as the Copa America tournaments in 2019 and 2021 played an important role in strengthening the relationship between Messi and the national team, Copa America 2024 also hinted at a future without him.
In the second half of the final against Colombia, Messi was injured and substituted. It can be said that Argentina improved when he was absent and continued to win the match.
Scaloni has had the opportunity to consider squad arrangements without Messi. The first choice was to let Alvarez and Martinez play together. That was the design when Argentina beat Chile 3-0 last September. More recently, Scaloni has had Alvarez play as a central striker, combined with Thiago Almada cutting in from the left as a playmaker.
This is how Argentina won against Uruguay in March and then showed a great performance to defeat Brazil with a score of 4-1. They do not lose respect for Messi. Instead, it was a huge psychological boost when Argentina won without the biggest star.
And Messi also seems satisfied with this situation. The momentum has changed. Messi's teammates in the national team have matured and are ready to take on more responsibility. And who knows, this change will help Messi reap more success with Argentina at the 2026 World Cup.
