Will Argentina still rely on Lionel Messi at 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Despite losing his pace, the Inter Miami star can still dictate matches.

One crucial question remains as Lionel Messi approaches the end of his illustrious career: Will he be able to lead Argentina to victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The opposition the 38-year-old faces on a weekly basis in Major League Soccer (MLS) doesn’t always match the level of technical skill or intensity of the international stage. However, he still dazzles there with Inter Miami.

A preview of Messi’s current performance against top defenders and its implications for his role with his national team next summer were on display at the FIFA Club World Cup. Inter Miami faced top opponents from Europe and South America.

How will Lionel Messi’s performance influence Argentina’s title defence at the 2026 World Cup next year?

At 38, his style of play has developed, but he still has the power to influence any game.

Messi’s abilities at Inter Miami are still being utilised by the team without putting his body under undue strain. With 34 regular-season games and a month-long playoff campaign if a team advances to the final, the Major League Soccer (MLS) calendar stretches from February to December.

The Herons and Messi also played in the FIFA Club World Cup and the Concacaf Champions Cup this year. They will also play in the Leagues Cup, which starts in late July.

Lionel Messi’s skill set remains the same, but his approach to using his best qualities has altered. The player now relies more on his ability to find a pocket of space to score and his accurate reading of the game to provide a perfectly timed assist. Messi’s ability to get past a defence and into the last third might have slowed down a bit, but it is still equally effective.

Both Lionel Messi’s metamorphosis and the latitude given to him by poor MLS defences can be easily traced statistically. He managed 5.5 meters per carry at the Club World Cup, which is less than the 6.1 meters he averaged in MLS play.

While the 6.1 number remembers Messi’s influence at the peak of his abilities, when he averaged 6.2 meters per carry in 2011–12, the 5.5 number is quite consistent with what he accomplished in his final seasons in Europe (5.2 with PSG in 2022–23, 5.7 with Barcelona in 2020–21).

There is a similar pattern to his take-on attempts per 90. His 4.5 average in this Club World Cup is much lower than his 9.1 average during his explosive peak in 2011–12. But his 7.99 per 90 in MLS play shows the possibilities league opponents give him with the ball at his feet.

We can observe a noticeable change away from dribbling and toward effective movement and playmaking when up against more formidable opponents.

His attacking-third passes per 90 have also fallen, from 35.6 in 2011–12 with Barcelona to just 13.0 in the Club World Cup. This isn’t because he hasn’t been involved, but rather because he has adopted a more selective and accurate strategy. In 2025, that figure increases to 24.3 in his domestic play.

Will Argentina once again depend on Messi’s masterclass in the World Cup?

Argentina’s matches during the international break were a clear testament that the national team is not entirely dependent on Messi. Their 1-0 win against Uruguay and 4-1 thrashing of Brazil have indicated that the new generation is ready to carry the South American giants.

The dynamic is now different. Messi and his fan club are no longer the only issue. His followers have matured and are prepared to assume greater accountability.

Messi is more likely to end his World Cup career with another chance at success the following year because of his confidence in his teammates and the realisation that it’s no longer all up to him.

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