Lionel Messi é cotado para jogar a Copa do Mundo aos 43 anos – e levar seu clube da Premier League ao título.

Lionel Messi is like watching a god in action – he will still be good enough to shine at the next World Cup for his adoring fans.

That’s the view of ex-England forward Gabby Agbonlahor, who also believes the 38-year-old would win his beloved Aston Villa a first Premier League title and a second European Cup crown following his latest dazzling display for Argentina.

Messi scored twice against Austria as Argentina sealed their place in the last-32AFP

Messi brought up his 17th and 18th World Cup goals in Monday’s 2-0 win over Austria to become the outright all-time top scorer in the global tournament.

It follows his record-breaking treble in last week’s 3-0 win over Algeria in which he became the oldest player to fire in a World Cup hat-trick.

No Messi-ng about

And Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, has now scored in each of his last six World Cup matches – stretching back to when he won the competition four years ago in Qatar.

In doing so, he is just the third player to achieve the feat after France’s Just Fontaine in 1958 and Brazil’s Jairzinho in 1970.

He could have even managed to become the first player to score two hat-tricks in a single tournament since Germany’s Gerd Muller in 1970.

But the Barcelona legend failed to hit the target from the penalty spot – before making up for amends by breaking the deadlock in the 38th minute with a trademark curling effort into the bottom corner.

Messi then sealed victory with a close-range effort in second-half added time to fire Argentina into the knockout stages with a game to spare.

Having scored each of his nation’s goals in North America so far, Messi is now on course to win a first World Cup Golden Boot on his sixth attempt.

Dream signing

Speaking on the talkSPORT World Cup Breakfast show, Andy Goldstein presented Agbonlahor with a hypothetical question as to what player he would want Villa to sign out of Messi, Harry Kane, Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

To which he said: “Messi. I think Villa would win the Premier League.”

Messi now boasts 18 World Cup goals since making his tournament debut in 2006Getty

Before adding: “If Aston Villa sign Messi, Aston Villa win the Premier League and Champions League.”

A God amongst men

talkSPORT’s Early Breakfast presenter Olivia Buzaglo was in the stands at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington to watch history being made as she fawned over the atmosphere created.

She said: “I can’t even explain to you what it’s like in a stadium when all of these people are just worshipping Messi, it’s literally the closest you will ever get to a god in football form.

“How lucky are we that we’ve all lived at the same time as Lionel Messi?”

Having his say on the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Agbonlahor then stressed fans across the pond should do all they can to watch Messi live as Argentina look to become the first side side since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup.

He remarked: “I said to her [Buzaglo] before she went, ‘One of the best things you do, the energy you feel in that stadium.’

Argentina skipper Messi has become the first player to score in six successive World Cup matches in 56 yearsGetty

“I went to the Argentina-Mexico game in a Qatar World Cup game, I had nosebleed seats, but Argentinian fans everywhere.

“And it felt like you’re in [the] company of a God, you felt the fans, it feels like you’re in a 90-minute concert.

“A 90-minute Messi concert and it’s one of the best concerts you’ll ever go to.

“If anybody’s over in America, Canada or Mexico and you get a chance to go and watch Messi for Argentina, [it] could be his last tournament, last time you’ll see him play, go and do it.

“If I was in America now with talkSPORT, I’d be paying whatever, I’ll pay a lot of money to go and watch him again.”

Interjecting, Andy Goldstein then said: “You’re right, you are seeing the greatest [footballer] ever.”

Messi has been the best standout footballer at the World Cup so far as he leads the goalscoring charts

Having the final say, Agbonlahor then stressed that Messi will still be around to wow supporters at the 100th anniversary 2030 World Cup, which will see him become 43 during the tournament.

He stated: “The fans, the whole game, I was watching it yesterday, all I can hear is, ‘Messi, Messi,’ the whole game, after the game, like Olivia says.

“He’s different… do not be surprised, I’ve said it the other day, Messi will play another World Cup.”

Messi will now be turning his attention to Argentina’s final match in Group J against Jordan, who have lost both of their games against Austria and Algeria.

But the Inter Miami forward will be having one eye on France’s Mbappe, whose double against Iraq has taken him to two strikes shy of Messi’s record haul of 18.

World Cup WhatsApp

Don't miss an update from talkSPORT in our dedicated World Cup WhatsApp channel.

Search for ‘talkSPORT World Cup’ in your ‘Updates’ tab on WhatsApp and we’ll drop the proper, unfiltered football chat straight to your lock screen—no fluff, just pure talkSPORT energy.

It’s where you’ll find out all the new rules to watch out for, England and Scotland reaction and big match player ratings.

Plus there will be loads of debates on the biggest talking points as Haaland, Mbappe, Kane and the biggest names in football descend on America, Canada and Mexico.