The debate over the greatest player in soccer’s history — or, at the very least, the undisputed best of the modern era — has surely been settled.

And while Lionel Messi’s legendary legacy would hardly be dinged if Argentina do not win a second consecutive World Cup, putting sport’s biggest trophy to his individual cabinet once more would mark a remarkable closing chapter to a truly one-of-a-kind career.

Having turned 39 last month, it would be fair to expect the diminutive magician to have slowed down a fraction. In reality, he has done anything but.

He holds what is surely an unassailable lead at the top of the tournament’s goal-scoring charts, having hit the back of the net eight times around America, and inspired his side’s latest great escape in a succession of stunning comebacks by laying on two assists with plenty of panache as they broke England’s hearts in the semifinal.

In what was his fifth time of asking, the little boy from Rosario finally stood on top of the world in Qatar four years ago, inspiring his country to a dramatic win over France in the final which was eventually settled through a penalty shootout.

Aged 36 years old, the diminutive magician showed he was anything but a spent force throughout the tournament, becoming the very first player to claim a second Golden Ball as its best player and scoring seven goals, including two in the decider.

At the time, Messi was playing his club football for French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain, having been forced out of Barcelona — where he left his home country to join as a 13-year-old and inspired to new height across the preceding two decades — due to the club’s financial woes.

Months after winning the World Cup, he departed the Parisiens, where he never quite figured as a natural fit, and joined the glitzy, David Beckham-fronted Inter Miami.

The United States were promptly swept up in ‘Messimania’. He slotted nine goals in his first six appearances in the club’s striking pink strip and their tickets instantly became the hottest of any sport in the country.

Fears a move to America would dull his competitive edge proved unfounded and he has continued to enjoy plenty of individual and team success. That is anything but shocking.

What could be considered something of a surprise is that he has continued to play international football, in which he has nothing left to prove, while doing so.

An explanation with some credence is that he is trying to make hay while the proverbial sun shines.

Messi’s relationship with his country has not always been smooth sailing. Following a loss to Chile in the final of the Copa America in 2016 — in what was his fourth defeat from four games with an international trophy on the line — he made an emotional announcement retirement, which he reversed months later.

Recent times have been happier. He finally broke his international trophy drought by claiming a Copa America in 2021 and did the same in 2024.

Argentina’s run to this World Cup final has not been smooth sailing. La Albiceleste needed extra time to best relative minnows Cape Verde and Switzerland and only got over Egypt and England thanks to launching late comebacks.

Is Messi concerned ahead of the decider, which will be played on Monday morning WA time in New Jersey? Hardly. Instead, he believes enduring plenty of tests of character will serve his side well.

“We’ve been the best over these past four years, either you like it or not, and no matter what anyone says,” Messi said his side’s 2-1 win in the semifinal.

“Everything we’ve done is no fluke and that nothing was handed to us.”