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Lionel Messi offered an emotional reflection on his "journey" with Argentina as he assured the squad of their place in history regardless of the result of Sunday's World Cup final.
At 39 years of age, there is a feeling that Sunday's match could be not only Messi's final appearance at a World Cup, but potentially the closing chapter of his legendary career with Argentina. La Albiceleste is aiming to defend their title on soccer's grandest stage, but Messi believes the team will be remembered as all-time legends even if Spain emerges victorious at MetLife Stadium.
"The most beautiful thing about all these years was never just the trophies, but the entire journey," he wrote on Instagram. "Sharing every day with this group, competing side by side, picking ourselves up in tough moments and savoring every step.
"Thank you to each of my fellow players, the coaching staff and all the people who work tirelessly every day to keep this team like a family.
"Whatever happens [in the final], this group has already made history that we will never forget and that nobody will ever be able to take away."
Will Lionel Messi Retire From International Duty After the World Cup?
Just a few months ago, there were no guarantees Messi would even feature at this World Cup. He had repeatedly stated he would assess his body and make a late decision, with confirmation only arriving when he was named in Lionel Scaloni's final squad.
Messi's dedication to international football is well known. Back in 2016 following Argentina's loss to Chile in the Copa América final—coincidentally also held at MetLife Stadium—Messi stepped away from international duty, stating that the heartbreak of falling short with his nation was too much to bear. An overwhelming wave of support from Argentine fans ultimately persuaded him to reverse that decision.
There was a sense that, after ending Argentina's 28-year trophy drought with the 2021 Copa América and adding the 2022 World Cup to his collection, Messi would feel his mission was complete, but he has repeatedly admitted that playing alongside this Argentine group brings him a kind of joy that has proven impossible to walk away from.
Where does the story conclude? Scaloni stated in early June that Messi would continue representing Argentina "as long as he wants" and, when asked ahead of Sunday's final whether supporters would ever see him in an international shirt again, Scaloni admitted he was just as much in the dark as everyone else.
"What do I know? Ask him," the Argentina manager laughed. "I genuinely have no idea, to be honest. He never stops surprising us."
Messi may have offered a clue about his future during a recent press conference, when it was suggested that his life resembled a video game in which he kept unlocking new levels.
"I already finished [the game] at the last World Cup," he smiled. "That's it. The game is over. I'm done."