BUENOS AIRES-, The Argentine star Lionel Messi left open the possibility of playing the World Cup-2026although he accepted that it will be “difficult” considering that, by then, he will be 39 years old.
“I’m not thinking about the World Cup and I’m not saying 100% that I won’t be there because anything can happen. Given my age, the most normal thing is that I won’t be there. We’ll see later,” said Messi, 36, interviewed by Star+, to almost a year since the title obtained in Qatar-2022.
“Perhaps we are doing well in the Copa América (in the United States-2024) and everything is given for us to continue. Maybe not. Being realistic it is difficult,” said the captain of the world champion team about the possibility of playing a sixth consecutive football world cup.
The star played his last game for the Albiceleste team in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in North America on November 21 at the Maracaná, when Argentina beat Brazil 1-0.
Messi, from Inter Miami, claimed to be “the first to know when I can be there and when I can’t. I am also aware that I went to a minor league (the MLS in the United States), but a lot happens because of the personal and the way I deal with it.” and to compete as one”.
“As long as I feel that I am well and can continue contributing, I am going to do it. Today the only thing I think about is getting to the Copa América well,” which he already won in Brazil in 2021, he said.
“Later, time will tell if I’m there or not. I’m going to arrive at an age that, normally, I wouldn’t be able to play in the World Cup. I said that I don’t think I’m going to be there. It seemed that after the World Cup I was retiring and quite the opposite. Now I want to be there more than ever,” Messi confessed.
FOUNTAIN: AFP
