Argentine star Lionel Messi did not rule out his participation in the 2026 World Cup in football, saying that he wanted to do so “more than ever,” but he acknowledged that “it will be difficult, realistically.”
While the talented player is being bombarded with questions about his participation in the World Cup scheduled for the United States, Canada and Mexico, Messi reaffirmed that “the only thing I am thinking about at the moment is arriving at Copa America” next June and July in the United States.
The captain of the Argentine national team, which won its first world title in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, after a prosperous career with Barcelona, added: “After that, time will determine whether or not I participate.”
He continued to the Star channel: “I will be 39 years old, which is not usually allowed to participate in the World Cup.”
The professional player, currently at the American club Inter Miami, added: “I previously said that I was not thinking about being there, and it seemed that I would retire after the last World Cup, but the matter is completely different. “I want to play there more than ever.”
This is the clearest declaration of intentions from Messi about his desire to participate in the next global event. Since winning the 2022 title, Messi (36 years old) has repeated that he will remain with the national team according to its current situation without thinking much about the future.
“The Mosquito” admitted: “I am not thinking about the World Cup, and I am not saying that I will not be there 100 percent.” Because of my age, it’s normal for me not to be there. Then we’ll see. Maybe we will succeed in Copa America, and everything comes together to achieve success. Maybe not. “In fact, things will be difficult.”
The distinguished playmaker explained the joy of currently playing with the “Alpe Celeste” team: “After years of suffering, we are now experiencing special moments that I have never experienced, and I want to take full advantage of them. “I want to benefit from all of this, without thinking about two or three years, which is a long period in football.”
Argentina leads the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, with 15 points out of a possible 18. The qualifiers will resume in September 2024.
After its recent victory over Brazil 1-0, coach Lionel Scaloni put doubts in the hearts of the Tango fans, when he said that the time had come to “think,” and that the team “needs a coach who has all the energy possible and performs well.”
Scaloni (45 years old), who led Argentina to win the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup, explained, without giving further details, that he would not resign in the press conference after the Brazil match.
2023-12-02 10:47:01
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