India, June 17 -- Lionel Messi has still got it. Even as he closes in on 39, he has arrived at this World Cup with a point to prove. The Argentina captain is showing every player and every team that he remains among the very best in the game. His performances suggest he is nowhere near ready to step aside, and he looks determined to lead Argentina's title defence from the front. For all the talk about a new generation taking over, Messi is making it clear that dethroning him will not be easy, even at this stage of his remarkable career.

It was not easy being Messi before the 2021 Copa America. For years, he faced criticism for failing to win a major trophy with Argentina despite building one of the greatest club careers football has ever...