{"success":true,"data":{"id":"95325418-394c-4eaa-acf2-e254cbd74ae8","title":"Lionel Messi is a ‘once-in-history’ star soccer will never see again","summary":"Lionel Messi is a ‘once-in-history’ star soccer will never see again Lionel Messi is pictured during Argentina's July 15 game at the World Cup. DeFodi Images/Shutterstock We won’t say that Sunday is Lionel Messi’s last game at a World Cup, because we’ve been down that road before, only to reverse ou...","content":"# Lionel Messi is a ‘once-in-history’ star soccer will never see again\n\n Lionel Messi is pictured during Argentina's July 15 game at the World Cup.  DeFodi Images/Shutterstock \n\nWe won’t say that Sunday is Lionel Messi’s last game at a World Cup, because we’ve been down that road before, only to reverse out of it in haste. Neither will Lionel Scaloni, Argentina’s coach, who met a question to that effect Friday by saying, “I haven’t the foggiest idea, to be honest.”\n\nRead this article and all sports content by subscribing\n\n*   Now the only way to access sports columnists and more\n*   Receive subscriber-exclusive daily and team newsletters\n\nFiled under\n\n Lionel Messi attempts to connect with the ball during Argentina's July 15 World Cup game. PSNEWZ/SIPA/Shutterstock\n\n Lionel Messi looks to move the ball during Argentina's July 15 World Cup game. DeFodi Images/Shutterstock\n\n Lionel Messi applauds fans after Argentina's July 15 win at the World Cup. FIFA via Getty Images\n\nYou are viewing**1** of **3**images Previous Image Next Image\n\n## More Stories","source_name":"New York Post","source_url":"https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/sports/lionel-messi-is-a-once-in-history-star-soccer-will-never-see-again/","url":"https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/sports/lionel-messi-is-a-once-in-history-star-soccer-will-never-see-again/","author":"Ethan Sears","author_name":"Ethan Sears","published_at":"2026-07-18T22:12:49.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-18T22:12:49.000Z","image_url":"https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/2026-semi-final-match-england-134623723.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=744","category":"sport","topic":"sport","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":1,"word_count":170,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot"}}