Four years ago, the world believed Lionel Messi's story had reached its perfect conclusion. At 35, he had lifted the World Cup trophy in what he declared would be his last appearance in the competition, solidifying what many consider his rightful claim as the greatest footballer to ever live.
Four years before that, at 31, those closest to him suspected he had played his final World Cup match and would retire without ever winning it.
Now, at 39, Messi has dismantled England and propelled Argentina into a second consecutive World Cup final.
His two assists drove the South Americans to a 2-1 comeback victory, bringing his tournament tally to four assists alongside eight goals at the 2026 World Cup. That makes him the joint top scorer and the second highest assist provider in the entire competition.
Argentina will face Spain — the nation where Messi spent the bulk of his career with Barcelona — in Sunday's final in New Jersey. His manager Lionel Scaloni said: "He's the best player in history, I don't know what else he would have to do to prove that. The majority of Spaniards love him."
BBC pundit Micah Richards declared: "They have Lionel Messi. They have the 'GOAT'. The greatest of all time. It's about moments. We thought it could have been Jude Bellingham or Harry Kane, but this is why he is the king."
How Messi Dismantled England's Hopes
The former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain forward had never faced England in his entire career before this semi-final — and Thomas Tuchel along with every Three Lions supporter will wish that remained the case.
Messi displayed flashes of quality in a grinding first half while operating in a central role, but it was after Anthony Gordon gave England a 55th-minute lead that Argentina truly ignited.
As Tuchel introduced additional defenders and England retreated, Argentina dominated with 88% possession over the following 37 minutes. Messi thrived after shifting out to the right wing.
"Getting Messi on the wing was the key for us," said goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez afterwards.
Messi completed nine dribbles and provided two assists against England — becoming the first player on record since 1966 to achieve both feats in a single World Cup knockout match. The entire England team managed just seven successful dribbles combined in Atlanta.
He registered seven touches in the opposition box — matching the total of every English player combined. His four chances created equalled the same figure. He also delivered a game-high nine crosses.
Most crucially, he created both Argentine goals. The first came from a corner routine, finding Enzo Fernandez who hammered in an 85th-minute equaliser from outside the area. Then he whipped in a cross for Lautaro Martinez to head home an injury-time winner.
Richards observed: "He walks around the pitch and then he comes alive when the ball comes to his feet. This genius comes into play and sometimes that is just the difference."
Former England keeper Joe Hart added: "The guys went back to what they did against Mexico and Norway where they locked the door. What that did was free up Lionel Messi, who had the skeleton key — he absolutely ran the show for the last 15 minutes."
England captain Harry Kane conceded: "For large parts of the game we dealt with him really well, but as always with the most dangerous players in the world when they have the ball they can create something. He's one of the best players ever for a reason."
Can Messi Claim the Golden Boot?
This summer Messi became the all-time leading scorer at World Cups with 21 goals out of his 125 total for Argentina. Remarkably, 15 of those 21 have arrived since his 35th birthday.
His eight goals at this tournament surpass the seven he netted in 2022, when he finished just one behind Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race. This time around, Messi and Mbappe are level on eight goals. Mbappe's France face England on Saturday in the third-place play-off.
England's Bellingham and Kane sit on six goals each and remain in contention. The tie-breaker for players level on goals is assists — where Messi holds four to Mbappe's three.
Messi could also finish as the tournament's top assist provider, currently sitting one behind France's Michael Olise.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told the BBC: "He's a little magician, he really is. He's done it all tournament now. You look at the goals scored and the balls he's put into England's box."
Will Messi Ever Slow Down?
It is easy to forget that Messi, then at Barcelona and aged 29, actually retired from international football in 2016 after losing the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and three Copa America finals. Since reversing that decision, he has won the Copa America twice.
When Messi lifted the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 with PSG, it felt like the final piece of his career puzzle had slotted into place. Many considered it the missing element from his claim to supremacy over fellow World Cup winners Pele and Diego Maradona.
"I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is really very gratifying," Messi said before the 2022 final. "There are a lot of years from this year to the next one. I don't think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant."
When he departed Europe the following year to join Inter Miami in MLS, it appeared he was winding down. Even during last year's Fifa Club World Cup, which he participated in, his involvement this summer was far from certain.
Yet here he stands, seemingly unstoppable despite an evolved playing style. Before the England match, he had walked 47% of the distance he covered in this tournament — the highest percentage of any outfield player.
Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, who authored a biography on Messi, notes he has tactically reinvented himself at least five times throughout his career.
Messi has now scored or assisted in 13 consecutive matches for Inter Miami and Argentina. If he contributes to a goal in Sunday's final against Spain, he will equal his personal record of 14 straight games set in 2011.
He will also become only the second player after Cafu to appear in three World Cup finals.
Surely Sunday will mark his final World Cup appearance? After all, he turns 43 in 2030. But perhaps at this stage, making assumptions about the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is a fool's errand.