World Cup 2026: How Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah became national icons

The most frequently mentioned term in Argentina at the moment is ‘bicampeonato’ (back-to-back World Cup championships).

But the question on everyone’s mind and no one wants to mention is ‘What will we do when Messi retires?’

Each new match for the national team at the World Cup – such as Tuesday’s against Egypt – is another step towards glory, a feat achieved by only two other countries (Italy in 1934 and 1938, Brazil in 1958 and 1962).

However, every match brings us to the retirement of Messi, the captain of the national team, the greatest icon of Argentine football.

His goals in this tournament (seven), his new records (sixth in his World Cup, eight consecutive World Cup appearances) and dramatic matches against Cape Verde have kept his country focused on the present.

After all, Messi plays like a 25-year-old, not a 39-year-old.

But we all know that the man who took us to the World Cup (Qatar 2022) and two Copa America titles (Brazil 2021 and USA 2024) is dancing his last tango in the Albiceleste jersey.

So, every victory represents progress in the competition, but also one more chance to enjoy a man who managed to reach the same heights as Diego Maradona in our football gods.

Ironically, many Argentine sports journalists have criticized the fact that the national team has once again become “Messi dependent” in this World Cup.

One of manager Lionel Scaloni’s greatest achievements was being the first coach to build a team that supported Messi rather than relying on him.

In the years prior to Scaloni’s arrival, the national team had endured World Cup final defeats in Brazil in 2014 and penalty shootout defeats in the finals (Chile 2015 and USA 2016) – but that has changed under the current coach.

Now, of the 11 goals Argentina have scored in the United States, only four have not been checked by Messi. The two main strikers – Lautaro Martínez and Julián Alvarez – seem to play only for the great captain, and the creative midfielders who participated in the previous tournaments – Enzo Fernández and Alexis McAllister – seem to be more focused on defending their own goal than attacking the opposing team.

As a personal relationship, it seems that the more we leave our loved ones, the more we miss them.