Argentina's Lionel Messi signs autographs upon his team's arrival to their hotel in Sant'Antonio Abate, near Naples, southern Italy, May 29, 2006, ahead of their pre-World Cup friendly match with Angola. Photo: AP/File
Netherlands' Khalid Boulahrouz, left, and Argentina's Lionel Messi challenge for the ball during the World Cup Group C soccer match in Frankfurt, Germany, June 21, 2006. Photo: AP/File
Argentina's Lionel Messi, right, eyes the ball during a challenge with Greece's Loukas Vyntra during the World Cup group B soccer match in Polokwane, South Africa, June 22, 2010. Photo: AP/File
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Bosnia during the group F World Cup soccer match at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 15, 2014. Photo: AP/File
Netherlands' Nigel de Jong, behind, challenges Argentina's Lionel Messi during the World Cup semifinal soccer match in Sao Paulo Brazil, July 9, 2014. Photo: AP/File
Argentina's Lionel Messi reaches for the ball during the group D match between Argentina and Croatia at the World Cup in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, June 21, 2018. Photo: AP/File
Argentina's Lionel Messi runs for the ball with Nigeria's Bryan Idowu, left, during a group D World Cup match in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 26, 2018. Photo: AP/File
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal against Mexico during the World Cup group C soccer match in Lusail, Qatar, Nov. 26, 2022. Photo: AP/File
Argentina's Lionel Messi greets cheering fans after his team's 3-0 win at a World Cup semifinal soccer against Croatia in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 14, 2022. Photo: AP/File
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after receiving the Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament during the awards ceremony after Argentina defeated France at the World Cup final in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 18, 2022. Photo: AP/File
Argentina's Lionel Messi walks on the pitch during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. Photo: AP