After World Cup heartbreak, what’s left for Lionel Messi to win?

Lionel Messi walked away from the 2026 World Cup empty-handed. As Argentina lost the final, the Golden Ball and Golden Boot went elsewhere, and the trophy he had dreamed of defending slipped from his grasp.

Many believe it was his final World Cup. Messi will be 42 by the time the tournament returns in 2030, and while Argentina are set to host a centenary match, few expect him to still be playing at the highest level.

But this is Messi. Throughout his career, he has redefined what longevity looks like, and there is still plenty left to play for.

Only two players have scored more goals in MLS this season, with the Argentine leading Inter Miami’s bid to become the first team since David Beckham’s LA Galaxy in 2012 to retain the MLS Cup. He remains under contract until 2028 and has yet to announce his retirement from international football.

Every Messi appearance now feels a little more precious. So what comes next for the greatest player of his generation?

One discussion point that surrounds Messi is the Ballon d’Or. At 11/4, he is third-favourite behind Harry Kane (13/10) and Lamine Yamal (9/4) to win football’s most prestigious individual award.

Had he managed to get his hands on the World Cup trophy again, he would have been firm favourite to win. No player representing a non-European club has ever claimed the honour and Messi’s chances of winning the world’s best player award for a record ninth time appear to have slipped away.

Regardless of whether another Ballon d’Or arrives, Messi’s focus will be on more silverware Inter Miami. They are 11/4 favourites to retain the MLS Cup despite sitting five points behind Supporters Shield leaders Nashville with play already underway again.

He remains the creative heartbeat of the side. Messi’s expected goals on target (xGOT) of 12.5 is the highest in MLS this season, while the 39-year-old also tops the chart for Big Chances created this season. He is a one-man attacking hub for Miami, who recently completed the signing of Casemiro to further strengthen their squad for the second half of the campaign.

Last year, Javier Mascherano switched to a more proactive approach for the playoffs that allowed Inter Miami to press high up the pitch without Messi having to help out. This preserved the veteran playmaker’s energy for the phases of play he could influence with the ball at his feet. It worked as they won the MLS Cup for the first time.

Guillermo Hoyos has only been in charge as interim manager of Inter Miami since April and it’s unclear how he will remould the MLS Cup winners. One thing’s for certain, though — Messi will be at the centre of the plan for the rest of the season.

Quite when Messi is back in action is not completely clear, but it is believed he will be unavailable for Inter Miami until August, as he rests on the back of his summer exploits.

Beyond club football, there remains another intriguing possibility.

Messi’s contract to 2028 at Miami means he will keep playing until after the Copa America that same year. After defying expectations throughout his career, it would be unwise to rule out one last tournament outing.

Even at 39, Argentina are still built around their captain. Lionel Scaloni regularly deployed a midfield diamond featuring Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Leandro Paredes at the World Cup to maximise Messi’s influence in possession.

Without him, Argentina’s creative spark is noticeably diminished. Messi created more than twice as many big chances as any of his teammates during the tournament and also recorded the highest expected goals figure in the squad. Whenever his international career finally ends, replacing his influence will be one of the biggest challenges Argentina have ever faced.

For now, though, retirement can wait.

He will soon return to influence another MLS Cup campaign. Whether or not another Ballon d’Or follows, the months ahead could still deliver more silverware, another chapter in his remarkable career, and perhaps even the first steps towards a final farewell with Argentina.

The World Cup may not have ended the way Messi had hoped — but his story is not yet over.