Messi turns 39: Is Argentina great somehow better than ever?

Lionel Messi turns 39 on Wednesday, but the Argentina captain is defying the calendar in emphatic fashion. Two World Cup group games, five goals, and a record-breaking haul later, the holders’ talisman is not just playing—he is dominating. The numbers alone justify the fuss: a hat-trick against Algeria followed by a brace against Austria have propelled him past Gerd Müller, Cristiano Ronaldo and Miroslav Klose to become the outright all-time top scorer in World Cup history. At an age when most players are contemplating testimonials, Messi is rewriting the tournament’s record books and dragging Argentina toward a second consecutive title.

From doubt to dominance in six weeks

Messi’s inclusion was not guaranteed. As recently as March, coach Lionel Scaloni admitted the decision hinged on the player’s physical and mental readiness. “It’s up to him, how he feels in his mind and his physical condition,” Scaloni said. The scepticism evaporated with his performance against Algeria, when Messi erased doubts with a first-half masterclass. Three goals, one record, and a statement to the world: at 39, he remains the tournament’s most dangerous striker.

Against Austria, he erased any remaining debate. Two more goals—one either side of half-time—extended his personal tally to five in two games and Argentina’s momentum. The holders now sit atop their group with a game in hand, their path to the knockout stages clearer than it was in Qatar. Messi’s five goals already surpass his entire output from the 2022 edition, where he inspired Argentina to glory. This time, he is doing it in fewer games than in 2022 and with a sharper intensity that has redefined what it means to be a World Cup striker at 39.

The complete forward at 39

Goals are only part of the story. Messi is not merely scoring; he is dictating. According to Sky Sports’ World Cup power rankings, which aggregate a broad set of metrics, he ranks as the tournament’s best-performing player. Among midfielders and forwards, he sits in the 96th percentile or higher for non-penalty expected goals (98th), shots (97th) and passes into the final third (96th). Progressive carries? 92nd percentile. Open-play expected assists? 86th. Even in defensive duels—where forwards rarely excel—he ranks in the 72nd percentile for possessions won, one of which directly led to a teammate’s chance against Algeria in the 21st minute.

This is Messi the orchestrator, the metronome, the player who simultaneously terrorises defenders and glides past them. His range of contributions defies the stereotype of the ageing forward reduced to poacher’s instincts. Instead, he is the fulcrum of a team that looks more balanced, more fluid, and more ruthless than in Qatar. The World Cup is not a sprint, but at this rate, Messi is treating it like one—with the stamina to cover 94 minutes and the vision to unlock defences in the 90th.

What comes next: a second star within reach

The knockout stages loom, and Messi’s form suggests Argentina are built for the rigours of a title defence. His nearest rivals for the Golden Boot—Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland—trail by three goals, while Cristiano Ronaldo sits two behind on two. The margin is comfortable, but in a tournament where momentum shifts in an instant, no lead is safe. Messi’s cushion at the top of the scoring charts, however, is not just psychological. It is statistical proof that he remains the tournament’s most consistent threat.

The road ahead is unforgiving. Every potential knockout-stage fixture presents a different puzzle: a dogfight with a defensive bully like Uruguay, a tactical chess match against a low block like Mexico, or a high-octane clash with a counter-attacking side like Germany. Yet Messi has already shown he thrives under pressure. In Qatar, he delivered when it mattered most—his assist for Ángel Di María in the final and the winning penalty against the Netherlands. Now, at 39, he is doing it with a swagger that suggests age is merely a number—and one he intends to keep ignoring.

As Messi blows out the candles on his 39th birthday, the question is no longer whether he belongs among the greats. It is whether he can finish the job. Argentina’s campaign is barely halfway complete, but their captain is already writing another chapter in a story that refuses to end. The World Cup, it seems, still belongs to Lionel Messi.