The Last Dance: Messi, the Golden Ball and One Final Farewell
Available in USThere is a photograph doing the rounds this week: a baby held up beside a young Lionel Messi, nearly two decades ago. The baby was Lamine Yamal, who turned 19 last Monday and starts for Spain on Sunday. If you want a single image for how long Messi has been at the top of this sport, that is it — and on Sunday night at MetLife, at 8pm Irish time, he almost certainly plays his last-ever World Cup game. Here is the farewell, the one award still in his grasp, and how the market prices the end of an era.
A farewell, and a shot at history
At 39, Messi leads out an Argentina side chasing something only Italy and Brazil have ever done — back-to-back World Cup titles, the first since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Win or lose, this is widely reported as the last dance; Scaloni, asked about him this week, kept it simple: "the best footballer that the world has seen."
He does not arrive as a passenger, either. Messi has eight goals and four assists for the tournament, dragging Argentina through a two-goals-down scare against Egypt and two extra-time slogs. There is unfinished personal business too: Mbappé pipped him to the all-time World Cup scoring record in the bronze game, and a goal on Sunday ties it, two reclaims it. We cover that chase in full on our Mbappé record page.
Still the Golden Ball favourite
Here is the quirk of the week. Losing the all-time goals record did not move the Golden Ball market — the tournament’s best-player award, which is voted, not counted. Messi remains the clear favourite at around 1/9 (as of 18 July 2026, converted to fractional), well clear of the field.
Behind him it is a Spanish-heavy board: Rodri around 10/1, the metronome behind Spain’s record-breaking run; Yamal around 40/1, the teenager lighting up the tournament; and Mbappé out to around 50/1 now that France are done. That order tells its own story — the voters have watched Messi carry Argentina and, even with the goals record gone, still make him the man of the tournament to beat.
- Sunday is widely reported as Messi’s final World Cup match, at 39.
- Argentina chase back-to-back titles — a feat not managed since Brazil in 1962.
- Messi is the clear Golden Ball (MVP) favourite at around 1/9, ahead of Rodri (10/1), Yamal (40/1) and Mbappé (50/1).
- A goal in the final would let him reclaim the all-time scoring record he lost to Mbappé this week.
The market read
At 1/9 the Golden Ball is not a betting proposition in itself — you are risking nine to win one, and that is a lot to stake on a subjective vote that could yet swing to a Spanish winner if de la Fuente’s side lift the trophy in style.
The Irish angle
Irish football has a soft spot for the great individualists, and there will be plenty in this country raising a glass to Messi on Sunday night regardless of the rosette they would normally wear. With Ireland long gone — the Czechia play-off in March put paid to that — the final is a neutral’s night, and there are few better reasons to stay up than the last act of the best to ever do it. For the tie itself see our final preview and final tips; the Argentina team page tracks Scaloni’s champions, and our Irish viewing guide has the plan for the night.
Odds shown are converted to fractional format for Irish bookmakers and were accurate as of 18-19 July 2026; always check the live price before betting. 18+, gamble responsibly. Please play within your limits — support is available at GambleAware.ie.
