World champion Lionel Messi is still leaving his sporting future in the Argentine national football team open, but participation in the 2026 World Cup at the age of almost 40 remains very unlikely.
“I don’t know,” said the six-time world footballer in an interview with the Argentine sports newspaper “Olé” when asked to give hope that he would take part in the 2024 Copa America and the World Cup. The World Cup finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico seem “far away”.
He “loves to play football and as long as I’m fine, fit and still having fun, I’ll do it,” said Messi. “It depends on how my career develops, what I’m going to do, on many things.”
The 35-year-old crowned his extremely successful career last December with the World Cup title in Qatar. Millions of fans celebrated the Albiceleste team on their return to Argentina. “I’ll stay a little longer, you have to enjoy it,” said Messi.
Messi, meanwhile, hopes that national team coach Lionel Scaloni, who is currently negotiating with the Argentine Football Federation, will continue: “He is a very important person for the national team and to continue this development process would be spectacular,” said the player.
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