Lionel Messi, just 25 days past his 39th birthday, is on an absolutely insane run in what might be his final World Cup. The Pulga keeps making the impossible look regular, pulling off jaw-dropping plays and racking up records like time itself doesn't apply to him. Now, on Sunday night against Spain, the Albiceleste's number 10 has a shot at something truly historic: lifting the World Cup trophy for the second time in a row. But that's not even half of it, because in this final, Messi could smash a whole series of records, cementing his already legendary career even further.
The Oldest Ever, And Still Scoring?
Think about it: just by stepping onto the pitch on Sunday, Messi is going to become the oldest outfield player ever to feature in a World Cup final. That's wild. The overall record still belongs to goalie Dino Zoff, who played in the 1982 final at 40 years and 133 days old. But for an outfield player, a guy running his socks off for 90 minutes, 39 years and 25 days is something else entirely. And if that wasn't enough, if the Pulga finds the back of the net against Spain, he'd also become the oldest goalscorer ever in a World Cup final. That record's been held by Sweden's Nils Liedholm since 1958, who was 35 years and 264 days old back then. Can you imagine the scenes if he pulls that off?Three Finals and Counting
Most of Messi's teammates on Sunday will be playing in their second consecutive World Cup final, having been there against France in 2022. But Messi's been around the block even longer than that. He's the only player on the national team who also played in the 2014 final, where Argentina lost to Germany. No matter what happens on Sunday, Messi is set to equal Cafu's incredible record, making him only the second player in history to play in three World Cup finals. That's a testament to his longevity and consistent brilliance. Plus, if he scores against Spain, he would become just the sixth player ever to score in two different World Cup finals, joining legends like Vavá, Pelé, Paul Breitner, Zidane, and Mbappé. Talk about elite company!Chasing Müller and Free-Kick Magic
Messi isn't just about showing up, he's delivering pure offense. He's sitting on eight goals and four assists this World Cup. That puts him just one goal contribution away from matching Gerd Müller's record of 13 total attacking contributions in a single World Cup, set way back in 1970. One more goal or assist, and he either equals it or blasts past it. And let's not forget his flair for the dramatic. Messi scored two goals in the last World Cup final in 2022. If he drops another brace on Spain, he'd tie Mbappé's record of four total goals in World Cup finals. Oh, and one more thing: he currently shares the record for direct free-kick goals at the World Cup, thanks to that beauty against Jordan in the group stage. If he conjures up that magic again on Sunday, he'd become the sole holder of that record. It's all on the line this Sunday night against Spain. The World Cup trophy, personal glory, and a chance to rewrite the record books multiple times over. You don't want to miss a second of this.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.