Lionel Messi (No.10) of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia on November 22, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar Photo: VCG

Spain coach Luis Enrique said earlier this week it would be "unfair" if Argentina great Lionel Messi were never to win the World Cup.

But the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner is running out of time and opportunities.

Alongside Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, the Qatar extravaganza will likely be the fifth and last World Cup for one of the two outstanding players of their generation - believed by many to be the two greatest footballers of all time.

Unlike previous contenders for the title of greatest of all time - Brazil's Pele and Diego Maradona of Argentina - at least one, and maybe both, will never lift football's greatest prize.

Yet in the case of Messi, this may well be his best chance yet to win that elusive prize.

He cut a distraught figure in 2014 after Argentina succumbed 1-0 to Germany in the final in Brazil, even briefly announcing his international retirement in 2016.

He changed his mind and in 2021 led Argentina to their first major title in 28 years, defeating hosts Brazil in the Copa America final by the same scoreline and in the same Maracana stadium where they had floundered seven years earlier.

Argentina head into this tournament on the back of a 36-match unbeaten run as one of the clear favorites.

Lionel Messi (No.10) of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia on November 22, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar Photo: VCG

"Argentina are one of the favorites for the whole World Cup," said Poland forward Robert Lewandowski earlier this week.

"They have not lost for 30-odd games, they're very dangerous opponents for everyone."

As the new darling of the Camp Nou in Barcelona, Lewandowski has been able to see first hand the legacy left behind by Messi in Catalonia.

"He is a Barcelona legend. You see it all over the place being at the club," the Pole said.

"He is Argentina's leader, one of the top players. We know who we're going to play against, it's a huge challenge."

Lewnadowski will likely be among the last players ever to play a World Cup match against Messi.

Heavy blow

But Messi and Argentina suffered a shock loss to Saudi Arabia in their opening game on Tuesday. Messi said the loss was a "very heavy blow" but vowed the South American champions would bounce back from the defeat.

"It's a very heavy blow, a defeat that hurts, but we must continue to have confidence in ourselves," Messi said after Argentina crashed to a stunning 2-1 loss in Group C. 

"This group is not going to give up. We will try to beat Mexico." 

Messi gave Argentina a 10th-minute lead from the penalty spot at the Lusail stadium but second-half goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari helped the Saudis pull off one of the greatest shocks in World Cup history.

Messi insisted that the team accepted their defeat and said the players were determined to put things right for the next game.

"There are no excuses, we're going to be more united than ever before," he said.

"This group is strong and has shown it before. We had not been in this situation for a long time. Now we must show that this is a true group."

"This is the time to stick together, to turn the page and not think about what happened."

Better balance

The late Maradona, Messi's predecessor as Argentina icon, secured his footballing immortality by inspiring the country to their second world title in 1986.

Messi would desperately love to add World Cup glory to all his other accolades that include four Champions League crowns and 10 La Liga titles.

And he's not alone.

"If Spain don't win the World Cup, I would like Argentina to win it because of Messi," Enrique, who coached Messi at Barcelona for three years, said on Twitch earlier this week.

"It would be unfair for Messi to retire without winning a World Cup."

There is a feeling that despite the recent retirements of attacking talents such as Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain, Argentina have a better balance in the squad than in previous years.

As well as Messi, fellow veteran Angel di Maria and Lautaro Martinez provide thrust and trickery in attack.

There is an industrious midfield including Rodrigo de Paul, Leandro Paredes and Alexis Mac Allister, and combative defenders in the mold of Cristian Romero and Manchester United revelation Lisandro Martinez, with the safe hands of Emiliano Martinez guarding the net.

It really is now or never for Messi but there is a growing feeling in Argentina that this will be the international swan song a ­nation and a legend have long dreamt of.