Lionel Messi has scored 15 of his 21 World Cup goals in 2022 and 2026. Argentina is just one win away from sporting immortality. Lionel Scaloni's side is aiming to become only the third team to win consecutive World Cups, following Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962).

To outpace European champions Spain for the title, they will need Lionel Messi to be in top form once again. The question remains: is he the greatest of all time? Regardless of opinion on that debate, it is undeniable that the Argentine maestro ranks among the best players ever to grace the sport.

Should Argentina win on Sunday, Messi will make history as the first captain to lift the World Cup trophy twice. After a somewhat disappointing start in his first four tournaments, he shined in 2022, leading Argentina to the trophy, and now sits just one goal behind Kylian Mbappe in his pursuit to become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer.

It's remarkable to think that Messi had initially retired from international football back in 2016, only to reverse that decision. This Sunday’s World Cup final marks his 34th appearance in the tournament, leading to speculation if it will be his last in the iconic blue and white stripes.

BBC Sport discusses what the future might hold for the great player. Could he even aim for a seventh World Cup in 2030? If Messi chooses to continue until 2030, he would become the oldest outfield player to compete in a World Cup, at the age of 43, unless Cristiano Ronaldo continues playing for Portugal.

Not only could Messi set a new record, but he might also play in one of the centenary matches held in Argentina during the next World Cup. Spanish football expert Guillem Balague believes this won't be the last we've seen of Messi at the World Cup. "Even if it’s said to be the end, I doubt it, but we'll see. I just see him with the national side, simply because he enjoys it," he noted.

This year's World Cup has been nothing short of phenomenal for Messi. He has netted eight goals in seven matches—only two goals behind tournament leading scorer Mbappe—and has propelled Argentina to the final through a series of brilliant performances. Scaloni, Argentina's boss, praised Messi as the greatest player ever, stating: "He is history, a legend. I feel proud, he is the best footballer the world has ever seen. Reaching a final at 39 is something unbelievable, and that is why I said we must enjoy him. With Diego Maradona, we still miss him, but Messi is still with us, so we must enjoy him."

When asked if this could be Messi's last game, Scaloni replied, "I have no idea; you will have to ask him. We haven't discussed it." His performances in North America mark a remarkable resurgence in Messi's late career at the World Cups, with 15 of his 21 tournament goals coming after his 35th birthday. After already lifting the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, Messi demonstrated his desire to continue into 2026. The question remains whether that ambition extends to 2030.

"I feel that he hasn't said the last word yet," Balague remarked. "He finishes games, 120-minute games, at 39. In the first 90 minutes against Cape Verde, he covered 6.5km, and 62% of that was walking. You can add a bit more walking. The passion is still there. All of that means he's not going to leave the national side."

There's also the possibility of Messi playing at a World Cup in front of a home crowd. The 2030 World Cup will feature six host countries. While most matches will occur in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, at least one game will be held in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.

A world-stage match in front of an Argentine crowd could be too enticing for Messi to refuse. He hinted at making the 2022 final his farewell by stating, "I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is really very gratifying." However, he went on to suggest that the journey was not necessarily over.

Regardless of what happens after the 2026 final, keep an eye on 2030.

In Argentina's semi-final against England, Messi did not add to his goal tally but recorded two assists in their late comeback victory, bringing his World Cup assists total to 12, 10 of which have come in knockout rounds—more than any other player on record.

His career boasts numerous individual records in club football including: most Ballons d'Or, Barcelona's all-time leading scorer, most La Liga goals, most goals in a calendar year, and most official recorded assists.

On an individual level at the World Cup:

• Leading appearance maker with 33
• One of only two players, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, to play at six men's World Cups
• Only player to win two Golden Balls - 2014 and 2022
• Scored in every round on the way to lifting the trophy in 2022 - the only player to do so
• Holds the record for most men's World Cup assists with 12
• Scored or assisted in 11 consecutive World Cup appearances, extending the longest-ever run by a player since 1966
• Scored in a record nine men's World Cup games in a row
• He will also become only the second player after Cafu to participate in three World Cup finals.