Facundo Medina has said Argentina’s players are prepared to give everything, including their lives, to make Lionel Messi’s final World Cup a memorable one.
Messi turned 39 two days ago and has already confirmed he will not be at the 2030 tournament. With five goals in three games, he leads the golden boot race at the 2026 World Cup and is playing some of the finest football of his twilight years. His teammates, it seems, are determined to make sure the ending matches the man.
“We want to make our captain’s farewell as memorable as possible,” Medina told FIFA. “Of course we want him to keep playing, but we know we have to fight with everything we have for him.”
It has been a career of extraordinary scope. Over more than two decades, Messi has rewritten the record books and become the heartbeat of the Argentine national side. On the international stage alone, he has won the 2021 and 2024 Copa America, the 2022 World Cup and the 2022 Finalissima. Four tournaments, four titles.
Argentina have already clinched top spot in Group J, though one group game remains, against Jordan in Dallas. Five more wins after that and they are world champions again. Medina has not let himself think any smaller. “We still have six games to play,” he said. “We will fight and give everything we have. Wherever we are asked to play, we will be ready.”
Medina came into the side from the start against Austria on 22 June after Nicolas Tagliafico picked up an injury and played a direct role in Messi’s opening goal, racing down the left and cutting the ball back for a finish that recalled the Barcelona version of Messi from 15 or 20 years ago.
Messi noticed the similarity himself. After the match, he said Medina’s assist had reminded him of his old understanding with Jordi Alba. Medina, typically, deflected the praise. “Maybe it brought back memories of his Barcelona days,” he told FIFA. “Everything gets talked about a bit more now. But I am just trying to give my best.”
One ahead of Messi are four players tied on four goals: Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Junior and one other. Argentina’s round of 32 opponents will come from Group H, with the second-placed side decided by Friday morning’s matches between Spain and Uruguay and Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia. Argentine supporters will have one eye on both.
