Lionel Messi isn’t ruling out enjoying for Argentina on the 2026 World Cup, however admitted age will make it tough to compete within the event.
Messi, who will flip 39 throughout the subsequent World Cup, had stated final yr that the 2022 event in Qatar could be his final. Nonetheless, with Argentina occurring to carry the trophy in December, Messi has now advised he’s open to competing in america, Canada and Mexico in three years’ time.
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“Because of age it’ll be difficult to make 2026,” Messi instructed Argentine publication Diario Olé. “I love playing football and while I feel like I’m in good shape and enjoying this, I’m going to keep at it. It seems like a long time until the next World Cup, but it depends on how my career is going.”
Encouragement for Messi to play one other World Cup has additionally come from Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.
“I think Messi can make it to the next World Cup,” Scaloni instructed Spanish radio Calvia FM final month. “It will depend a lot on what he wants and what happens over time, that he feels good. The doors will always be open. He is happy on the pitch, and for us [it] would be good.”
Messi already holds the file for many World Cup appearances after eclipsing Germany‘s Lothar Matthaus by enjoying his twenty sixth match within the dramatic 2022 remaining victory over France. He’s additionally one among solely 5 gamers to have taken the sphere in 5 completely different World Cups.
Enjoying in 2026 would additionally give the Rosario-native an opportunity to change into the World Cup’s all-time main scorer. After netting seven occasions in Qatar to assist Argentina to their third World Cup triumph, he now has 13 targets within the competitors, three behind record-holder Miroslav Klose of Germany.
Messi scored twice within the World Cup remaining in Doha throughout an exciting 3-3 draw with France that Argentina went onto win in a penalty shootout to provide the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner the only real main trophy to have beforehand eluded him in his profession.
“I saw the cup there, so close, that I was drawn to be near it, touch it, kiss it. It was such an exciting feeling to say ‘it’s done,'” Messi stated of lifting the trophy.
“To this day it remains such an exciting moment. Even when I see it now, I enjoy it more than I did at that moment. Things have calmed down since, so it’s more exciting for me. I see a lot of videos on social media now.”
Messi’s PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe completed on the shedding facet within the remaining, regardless of scoring a hat trick, and the previous Barcelona star, who himself skilled shedding a World Cup remaining in 2014, admitted the pair haven’t spent a lot time discussing the occasions of that day.
“With Mbappe, we talked a bit about the game, the celebrations. But that’s it,” Messi stated.
“I happened to be on the other side, losing a final, and I didn’t want any of that talk. That’s why I don’t want to broach the subject, but no problems with Kylian.”