A decade after retiring from international football in heartbreak, Lionel Messi is once again making history on football's biggest stage.
The Argentina captain scored twice in a 2-0 victory over Austria on Monday to become the outright leading goalscorer in World Cup history, adding yet another remarkable chapter to an extraordinary international career.
It is a stunning achievement for a player who, in 2016, believed his journey with Argentina had come to an end.
Following a fourth major final defeat in nine years and a missed penalty in the Copa America final loss to Chile, a devastated Messi announced his retirement from international football.
"For me, the national team is over," he said at the time. "I've done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion."
Ten years later, just days before his 39th birthday, Messi is not only still representing Argentina but continues to lead the reigning world champions while rewriting football history.
Argentina's latest victory came exactly 40 years after Diego Maradona's famous World Cup quarter-final performance against England in 1986.
On another historic night for Argentine football, Messi once again stole the spotlight.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner endured an early setback when he missed a penalty in the eighth minute. However, he responded in trademark fashion, opening the scoring 30 minutes later with a composed low finish.
The goal moved him onto 17 World Cup goals, surpassing Germany legend Miroslav Klose and making him the tournament's all-time leading scorer.
Messi wasn't finished.
Deep into stoppage time, he squeezed home a second goal from a tight angle to take his tally to 18 World Cup goals and further cement his place in football history.
"I enjoy playing and having a good time on the pitch," Messi said after the match.
"We enjoy seeing the people like this too, being able to give them this kind of joy."
Messi's decision to reverse his international retirement transformed Argentina's fortunes.
Since returning, he has led La Albiceleste to back-to-back Copa America titles and famously captained the nation to World Cup glory in 2022, scoring seven goals, including two in the final.
Remarkably, 13 of his 18 World Cup goals have come since that retirement U-turn.
His latest brace means he has now scored all five of Argentina's goals at the current tournament and sits clear at the top of the scoring charts.
Messi has also become only the third player in history to score in six consecutive World Cup matches, joining Just Fontaine and Jairzinho in an exclusive club.
At 38, Messi continues to produce performances that defy conventional expectations.
Twelve of his 18 World Cup goals have come after turning 35, highlighting both his longevity and ability to adapt his game.
Former players and pundits were once again left in awe.
"Are we looking at the greatest player ever? It's possible and definitely worth the debate," said former Wales defender Ashley Williams.
"We might have just witnessed the greatest player football has ever seen."
Former England midfielder Danny Murphy added:
"His football intelligence is off the charts. He just finds space, and the timing is great from the best player I've ever seen."
Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague believes Messi's understanding of his own game is allowing him to thrive deep into his career.
"He doesn't need to run. He doesn't need explosive pace to beat defenders. He does it with intelligence," Balague said.
Despite another historic performance, Messi showed he remains human.
His early penalty miss made him the first player to fail from the spot at the 2026 World Cup and extended his record for both penalties taken (seven) and penalties missed (three) in World Cup history, excluding shootouts.
The Argentina captain admitted his frustration after the miss.
"There was a moment where I was very angry about the penalty because I missed it and I took it very, very badly," he said.
"Luckily we were able to reverse that situation, take the lead and get the three points."
Fortunately for Argentina, Messi's response was emphatic.
His two goals ensured that, for the first time in his international career, he scored in a competitive match for Argentina after missing a penalty.
Argentina have already secured qualification for the last 32, and Messi's pursuit of history is far from over.
The legendary forward is currently level with Diego Maradona on eight World Cup assists and could surpass another Argentine icon when the world champions face Jordan in their final group-stage match.
With 18 World Cup goals, countless records, and a nation once again dreaming of glory, Messi's remarkable story continues to evolve.
What once appeared to be the end of his international career has become one of football's greatest comeback stories.
