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Describing a result as a 'victory for football' might seem like a trite cliche - but you won't find many neutrals disagreeing with that description of Spain's win in the 2026 World Cup final.
When Ferran Torres slammed in the extra-time winner, and Rodri lifted the trophy high in New Jersey, it is hard to imagine many will have had sympathy for Argentina.
Spain triumphed in a battle of endurance, for players and spectators, to beat the Argentines and win their second men's World Cup.
On every football metric - and, some would say, morality too - this was the right result.
"There is no doubt that the right team won," former England captain Alan Shearer said on BBC One. "From start to finish, Spain controlled possession. They were the ones looking to play football, create chances and get in behind.
"This is a result for football because of the way that they have played. Spain deserve it."
Spain had 65% possession, an expected goals tally of 1.94 and 20 shots on goal - 11 on target.
At the other end, goalkeeper Unai Simon kept his seventh clean sheet in eight matches as he won the Golden Glove for the tournament's best goalkeeper.
Spain conceded just one goal at the 2026 World Cup - the fewest conceded by any winning team.
If Messi decides to carry on with Argentina to 2030, then he would become the oldest outfield player to appear at a World Cup, at the age of 43 - unless, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo opts to keep going for Portugal.
Not only could Messi add a new record to his long list, but he would have the chance to play in one of the centenary matches held in Argentina at the start of the next World Cup.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague doesn't think this is the last fans will be seeing of Messi at the World Cup.
"Even if you hear it is the end, I doubt it but we'll see. I just see him with the national side, simply because he enjoys it," he said.
"I don't see him being at Inter Miami in the MLS, still performing and then saying that's it and he's going to play out the rest of his career with Inter Miami."
Messi's 2026 World Cup has been nothing short of sensational. He has scored eight goals in seven games - two goals behind tournament top scorer Mbappe - and has carried Argentina into the final with a series of virtuoso performances.
Argentina boss Scaloni hailed Messi as the greatest player ever, saying: "He is history, a legend. I feel proud, he is the best footballer the world has ever seen and reaching a final at 39 is something unbelievable - and that is why I said we must enjoy him.
"With Diego Maradona, we still miss him but Messi is still with us so we must enjoy him.
"I have no idea if this is Leo's last game, you will have to ask him. We haven't discussed it."
His displays in North America continue a quite remarkable late career resurgence for Messi at World Cups. Fifteen of his 21 tournament goals have come since his 35th birthday.
Having already lifted the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, Messi showed he had the motivation to keep going in 2026. The question is whether that continues to 2030.
"I feel that he hasn't said the last word yet," said Balague. "He finishes games, 120-minute games, at 39.
"In the first 90 minutes against Cape Verde, he covered 6.5km and 62% of that is walking.
"You can add a bit more walking. The passion is still there. All of that means he's not going to leave the national side."
There is also the factor of Messi playing at a World Cup in front of a home crowd.
The 2030 World Cup will have six host nations. While the majority of matches will take place in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, at least one game will be played in each of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. A world stage game in front of an Argentine crowd may be too much for Messi to resist.
Messi himself hinted that the 2022 final would be his international swansong.
"I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is really very gratifying," he said before the 2022 showpiece.
"There are a lot of years from this year to the next one. I don't think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant."
That has obviously proved to not be the case. So regardless of what might be said after the 2026 final, keep an eye on 2030.
Messi didn't add to his goal tally in Argentina's semi-final against England, but his two assists in their late comeback victory mean he now has 12 World Cup assists, 10 of which have come in the knockout rounds. No other player on record has more than eight in total.
His career has been littered with individual records in club football: most Ballons d'Or, Barcelona's all-time leading scorer, most La Liga goals, most goals in a calendar year, and most official recorded assists.
As for his individual records at World Cups...
Leading appearance maker with 33
One of only two players, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, to play at six men's World Cups
Only player to win two Golden Balls - 2014 and 2022
Scored in every round on the way to lifting the trophy in 2022 - the only player to do so
Holds the record for most men's World Cup assists with 12
Scored or assisted in 11 consecutive World Cup appearances, extending the longest-ever run by a player on record since 1966
Scored in a record nine men's World Cup games in a row
He will also become only the second player after Cafu to play in three World Cup finals.
