
Lionel Messi could still be dazzling fans at the 2030 World Cup despite already being 38 years old, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.The Argentina captain enhanced his already glittering legacy on Monday night by scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over Austria in Dallas, taking his tally to five goals in just two matches at this summer’s tournament.Messi had already netted a hat-trick in Argentina’s opening 3-0 win over Algeria and has now moved two clear of Miroslav Klose to become the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer.While many expected this summer to be the final chapter of Messi’s remarkable international career, Balague believes the Inter Miami star still has another World Cup left in him.”He is enjoying it and this is the best thing. I have seen him play World Cups where he couldn’t last 90 minutes, Balague said while analysing Argentina’s latest victory on BBC Radio 5 Live.”Here at the end, he was running like anyone else, now he knows his body so well.”Messi doesn’t need to run. He doesn’t even need explosive pace to beat defenders, he just does it with intelligence.Lionel Messi could still be dazzling fans at the 2030 World Cup despite already being 38 years old, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague | GETTYLionel Messi already has five goals at this summer’s World Cup | GETTY”I think we’re going to see him in four years time.”Balague admitted it is becoming increasingly difficult to put Messi’s achievements into context.”It is another record,’ he added.Every team to have won the World Cup | GETTY/GB NEWS”We don’t have time to create statues for Lionel Messi or deep analysis for him in newspapers. We cannot keep pace.”Messi missed an early penalty against Austria after Lautaro Martinez was fouled inside the area but quickly made amends, opening the scoring with a trademark left-footed finish before adding his second goal of the evening after following up Julian Alvarez’s saved effort.Former Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta hailed Messi’s blistering start to the competition.”Memorable moment, breaking the record,” he said.”For Lionel Messi, scoring two goals after coming from a hat-trick, I think is a pretty impressive start at the World Cup.”Former France striker Olivier Giroud was equally effusive in his praise.Lionel Messi was the star of the show for Argentina once again as Austria were beaten at the World Cup | GETTY”Lionel Messi is getting better and better with age,” Giroud said.”Five goals for Argentina in two games, the only scorer.”He is always in the right place at the right time.”He is in the middle to create and dictate the game.”Argentina have now won both of their Group J matches, with Jordan lying in wait on Sunday.Based on this evidence, Lionel Scaloni’s men will take some stopping as they target back-to-back World Cup triumphs.