Lionel Messi ends World Cup career with record‑breaking run at 2026 tournament

Lionel Messi played his sixth and final FIFA World Cup at the 2026 edition hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Argentina reached the final but lost 1‑0 to Spain, finishing as runners‑up. Messi left the tournament as the second‑highest scorer in World Cup history with 21 goals and set several longevity records: 33 matches played (surpassing Lothar Matthäus), more than 2 700 minutes on the pitch, most games as captain, most victories, a joint‑record 12 assists, and the first player to score in ten consecutive World Cup matches.

His performance cemented his status among the greatest players of all time, and the tournament marked the end of his World Cup appearances. Shortly after the final, Messi returned to Argentina on a private jet, avoiding crowd contact and heading to his family home in Rosario.

Off the field, Messi’s presence fueled a commercial boom for his club Inter Miami. Local revenues surged from US$55 million in 2022 to US$215 million in 2025, and the club secured new sponsorships, including a partnership with Marriott Bonvoy that ties the hotel’s loyalty programme to the new Nu Stadium, valued at US$1.45 billion. The club is projected to generate around US$250 million in local revenue by 2026, reinforcing its market‑leading position in MLS.