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Analyzing FIFA changes and Messi's future

FIFA has adjusted to 12 groups of 4 for the tournament, with the top two teams and eight best third-place teams moving on to the round of 32, with the draw expected in late 2025. It's hard to validate claims about group formations right now. As for Messi and 2026, he initially seemed unlikely to play but mentioned trying for Copa America 2024 first. By mid-2024, Argentina won that tournament against Colombia. However, I need to be cautious, as my knowledge cutoff is in October 2024, so not all details are clear.Fact-checking scoring records

I’m looking into scoring records: The current record stands at 16, while Messi has 13, meaning he needs 3 to tie and 4 to break it. The 2026 tournament has an expanded format, allowing for more matches, but Messi will be 39 by then. Given his age, physical performance may limit his playing time, yet he could still handle set-piece and penalty duties, which would boost scoring.

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Other contenders include Mbappé, who has 12 goals—4 behind Klose. By 2026, he’ll be 27, making it more likely that he could surpass the record, so Messi isn’t the only threat.Fact-checking and analysis

We should clarify that the notion of a "favorable group draw" is just speculative since no official draw has occurred yet. The group stage includes three matches, which could allow for more scoring opportunities—potentially 3 or more if he performs well. Additionally, there are four knockout rounds to consider.

Given this context, I can propose a concise bullet-point summary that includes details on Messi's current goals, the 2026 format, qualification needs, and age. Oh, and I’ll mention Mbappé as another contender!

事实核查与分析