Lionel Messi's father with his son's Golden Ball after the 2022 World Cup final. "You kept asking me to play in one last World Cup," Messi wrote. Argentina did reach the final, Messi's third World Cup final with La Albiceleste, but Jorge was not there to witness it. Spain defeated Argentina, denying Messi the chance to deliver his father a second World Cup trophy. Messi's future with the national team now remains unclear, with no confirmed commitment to continue beyond the 2026 World Cup.