Messi on the brink of history - will it be his last World Cup game?

Core point

Lionel Messi's performance is crucial for Argentina as they aim to win consecutive World Cups. If successful, he would become the first captain to lift the trophy twice. Messi is currently just one goal behind Kylian Mbappe in the race to become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer. There is speculation about whether this will be Messi's last World Cup appearance, with discussions about his potential participation in the 2030 tournament.