The last dance: Messi, Ronaldo and the legends saying goodbye in 2026

No World Cup has ever doubled as a farewell party quite like this one. Lionel Messi, 38, leads Argentina's title defence in what he has all but confirmed is his final World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, becomes the first player in history to appear at six tournaments as Portugal chase the one major trophy that has eluded their golden era.

They are not alone. Luka Modrić, 40, captains Croatia one final time after dragging his tiny nation to a final and a third-place finish in the last two editions. Kevin De Bruyne, 34, anchors a rebooted Belgium. Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah, the twin pillars of African football for a decade, lead Senegal and Egypt. Edin Džeko, 40, finally returns Bosnia and Herzegovina to the world stage.

For Messi, the script is dangerous in its perfection: defend the crown won so dramatically in Qatar, on the continent where he now plays his club football, in stadiums that will be overwhelmingly pro-Argentina. Inter Miami's talisman remains La Albiceleste's creative heartbeat even as Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez carry more of the scoring load.

Ronaldo's Portugal may be the more complete team. Back-to-back Nations League titles, Bruno Fernandes and Rafael Leão in their primes, and a kind group draw give Roberto Martínez's side a genuine path deep into July.

And waiting for all of them is the new generation: Lamine Yamal's Spain, Jude Bellingham's England, Kylian Mbappé's France and Erling Haaland's Norway — at his first ever World Cup. The torch will be passed this summer. The only question is whether the old guard hands it over or makes them take it.