In a recent interview with Titan Sports, Lionel Messi confirmed that he is unlikely to participate in another World Cup. The 35-year-old Argentine footballer led his team to victory in the 2022 Qatar tournament.
When questioned about his potential involvement in the 2026 North American World Cup, Messi clarified, “I have stated multiple times that I don’t foresee it, as I believe the 2022 World Cup was my last.” He continued, “While we can’t predict the future, I don’t anticipate participating in the next World Cup.” The video interview, conducted in Spanish, was released on the Kuaishou app.
The footballer, who has won the Ballon d’Or seven times, is in Beijing with the Argentine team, preparing for a friendly match against Australia scheduled for Thursday. Messi’s remarks came after he shared with the Argentinian newspaper Ole that playing in another World Cup would be “very difficult.” He will be 39 by the time the next tournament rolls around.
Recently, Messi announced his move to join MLS team Inter Miami after completing a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain. Argentina’s friendly against Australia will occur in Beijing’s 68,000-seater Workers’ Stadium. This match reprises the World Cup’s last-16 tie in Doha, which Argentina claimed 2-1. As the former Barcelona star is a significant attraction for Chinese fans, tickets have quickly sold out despite prices soaring to 4,800 Yuan ($671).
