’Surely this was his last’ — the 2018 prediction that Messi has spent eight years destroying

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It was June 30, 2018. In Kazan, Russia, a 31-year-old Lionel Messi trudged off the pitch after a 4-3 defeat to France in the World Cup round of 16. Argentina were eliminated. Messi had scored once and provided two assists, but it wasn’t enough. He had now played 756 minutes in World Cup knockout matches without a single goal. The narrative was settled: his time was up.

“Surely this was Messi’s last World Cup,” a match commentator declared. “He’ll be 35 in Qatar”.

Eight years later, that sentence has become one of the most spectacularly incorrect predictions in sporting history.

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The numbers that destroyed a narrative

Since that night in Kazan, Messi has played in two World Cup tournaments. In 14 games across Qatar 2022 and USA-Canada-Mexico 2026, he has scored 15 goals and provided 7 assists — 22 goal contributions in just 14 appearances.

In Qatar 2022, at age 35, he produced the finest campaign of his career: seven goals and three assists, leading Argentina to their first World Cup triumph since 1986. He scored twice in the final — a penalty and a clinical finish in extra time — and converted his spot-kick in the shootout. He became the first player in history to win two World Cup Golden Balls (2014 and 2022).

In 2026, at 39, he has somehow gone even further: eight goals and four assists in seven matches, leading the Golden Boot race. He became the all-time top scorer in World Cup history with a brace against Austria, surpassing Miroslav Klose’s record of 16. He also became the all-time assist leader with 12, surpassing Diego Maradona.

Incredibly, 12 of Messi’s 21 World Cup goals have come after the age of 35.

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From ‘last dance’ to ‘eternal legend’

After the 2022 triumph, much was made of the 2026 World Cup being the “last dance” for Messi. He remained tight-lipped until an official announcement was made. But when he arrived in the United States, he delivered his first-ever World Cup hat-trick against Algeria in the group opener, then followed it with a brace against Austria to claim the all-time scoring record.

In the semi-final against England, with Argentina trailing 1-0 with five minutes remaining, Messi delivered two assists in eight minutes — first setting up Enzo Fernández for the equaliser, then delivering a beautiful right-footed cross for Lautaro Martínez’s stoppage-time winner. He completed 10 dribbles — as many as the other 31 players on the pitch combined.

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The commentator’s apology

The commentator who made the original prediction has since issued a public apology, acknowledging that his words could not have been more wrong. In the years since 2018, Messi has not only defied age but redefined what is possible in a footballer’s career.

As one observer put it: “Messi’s never-ending story” continues. What began as an obituary has become a legend. And on Sunday, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the man who was supposedly finished in 2018 will walk out for his third World Cup final — chasing a second consecutive title, a feat no nation has achieved since Brazil in 1962.

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The final chapter?

Messi has described himself as “running on fumes”. But those fumes have produced 22 goal contributions, two Golden Balls, one World Cup trophy and counting since a commentator in Kazan closed the book on his career.

The rest, as they say, is history. And Messi is still writing it.