Lionel Messi has seemingly hinted at a possible retirement just hours before playing for Argentina in the World Cup final.The 39-year-old will lead his country out against Spain at the MetLife Stadium, with kick-off coming live on talkSPORT at 8pm UK time.Messi is set to play his last ever World Cup match for ArgentinaGettyArgentina are looking to become the first nation to win back-to-back World Cups since their South American rivals Brazil in 1962.Messi has shone in their run to the final with eight goals and another four assists, with the forward contributing in every single fixture.He also broke the record for the most goals scored at the World Cup, but is now one behind France star Kylian Mbappe, who has netted 22.Having already won football’s biggest prize in 2022, a second title would add to his legendary status in world sport.However, judging by a post on Instagram, tonight’s match could be one of the last in what has been an extraordinary career.Messi displayed the adidas boots he will be wearing against Spain and said: “What a journey we’re having together.”Spotted on the bottom of his boots are the words ‘El Ultimo Tango’ which translates to ‘The Last Tango’.It’s an idiom that relates to a final performance before retirement.adidas revealed his boots before the World Cup began and said the 2026 tournament would be his last in the competition.Messi has remained coy on his post-World Cup plans, but it looks as though hanging up his boots is a possibility in the coming months. View this post on Instagram Retirement is not out of the realms of possibility for MessiGettyShould Messi retire?Messi has won a staggering 40 trophies at club level across his spells at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami.He has another four senior honours with Argentina, for whom he has scored 125 goals in 206 appearances.With an overall goal tally of 919, Messi has starred in one of the most outstanding careers of any top athlete.Regardless of what happens in the final against Spain, talkSPORT’s Tony Cascarino believes it would be the right time for him to retire.He compared Messi to his long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo who, at the age of 41, had an underwhelming World Cup with Portugal.“Even if he loses, I just think Lionel Messi will (retire),” Cascarino said on the Weekend Sports Breakfast.A second World Cup would further define Messi’s legendary statusGetty“I think he’s that type of guy that will know, and he hasn’t done the Ronaldo thing of just going on and on. “Ronaldo has got to 41, he’s been amazing, but your legacy can be watered down slightly by just carrying on, not being as good. “You see it in individual sports, (Roger) Federer was a great player but he tried to keep playing at the end of his career. “(Novak) Djokovic is doing that now, he can’t compete like he once did or be winning like he did. I think when you’re that good, you have to retire at the right time.”Messi remains under contract at Inter Miami until December 2028, so he could continue to play at club level until then.However, winning a second World Cup would be an ideal way for him to call time on international football.