Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski are set to face off on Wednesday in a must-win World Cup Group C encounter between Argentina and Poland at Stadium 974 in Doha.

Either one or two of the best players in European club football might not make it to the knockout rounds in Qatar and end their careers without winning the most important tournament.

Messi has already scored twice in his last attempt to win the World Cup for Argentina like Diego Maradona. He is trying to get the Albiceleste out of Group C after Saudi Arabia shocked them in their first game.

Argentina beat Mexico 2-0 to save their campaign. They are now in second place, tied with Saudi Arabia on three points and one point behind the leaders, Poland. Only a win will make sure that Messi, who is 35 years old, can play in Qatar until December.

Fans back home would be devastated, and Messi fans all over the world are dying to see him win the World Cup.

It would also be a fitting way for one of the best football players of all time to end his career, but coach Lionel Scaloni doesn’t think such drama is necessary.

“It’s hard to make people understand that the sun will rise tomorrow, win or lose,” he said after his side beat Mexico to get their challenge back on track.

“What matters is how you do things.”

Lewandowski was moved to tears when he scored his first World Cup goal in his fifth match, a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia. It was his “childhood dream” come true.

The forward for Barcelona knows that if Poland gets knocked out of the tournament on Wednesday, he might not get another chance to play on this stage.

“I’m aware it might be my last World Cup and I wanted to be able to say that I’ve played and scored at World Cups,” said the 34-year-old.

Photo by EPA/Mohamed Messara