Lionel Messi said he has “every desire” to lead Argentina in the defense of the title in the World 2026, but will not make the final decision on its participation until the beginning of the year.
The Albiceleste star, 38, remained a mystery during an interview with the NBC network on the occasion of his recent renewal with Inter Miami.
“The truth is that it is something extraordinary to be able to be in the World Cup. I would like to be well and be an important part of helping my team, if I am,” Messi said in the talk broadcast this Monday.
“I’m going to evaluate it on a day-to-day basis when the preseason starts next year with Inter and see if I can really be at 100%, if I can be useful to the group, to the national team, and then make a decision,” La Pulga advanced in one of the few interviews he has granted since his arrival in the North American league (MLS) in 2023.
MLS teams, which have just begun their playoffs, typically begin preseason in January while next year’s World Cup is scheduled to be held between June 11 and July 19 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“Obviously I have all the desire because it is a World Cup. We have just won the last World Cup and being able to defend it again on the field is spectacular because it is always a dream to play with the national team, especially in official competitions,” he argued.
“It was the dream of my life,” he said about the Albiceleste’s victory in the last Qatar 2022 event. “It is also true that it was the only thing I was missing on a professional level, because I had been lucky enough to achieve everything on an individual level and on a team level with Barcelona.”
“I think it is the dream of every player. When you ask a footballer what his dream is, it is to be world champion,” he remarked.
sports idols
Before starting the playoffs, in which they are fighting for the first league title in their history, Inter announced last Thursday the continuity of their captain until the end of the 2028 season.
The former Barcelona star, top scorer in the regular phase this season, assured that it was not difficult for him to sign a contract that would keep him competing in Miami until he was 41 years old.
“The truth is that I like everything about living here,” Messi said about the considered Latin capital of the United States.
“It is a city that allows us to live very well, that makes us enjoy life, that allows us to be calm, that allows children to be themselves and live day to day.”
Regarding the expected takeoff of soccer in the United States, Messi showed that “it is possible,” but that “big changes” are needed.
“There is a very important base. The teams are prepared and want that growth and I think it is time to do it,” said Messi, who pointed to an excess of regulations that make it difficult to attract players to the MLS.
“That each team can sign what each one wants without having limitations or rules so that the players fit in,” he asked. “If they were given the freedom, I think many more important players would come and help growth in the United States.”
The Argentine star also remembered what his role models have been in sports, starting with Diego Armando Maradona in soccer.
“Obviously for us Argentines, Maradona was always our greatest idol,” he said. “Diego transcended anything and I think the same thing happened with (Michael) Jordan.”
“I also greatly admire the tennis players, (Roger) Federer, Rafa (Nadal), (Novak) Djokovic. The three of them made the competition bigger than it was. Competing for so long to be the best and being so close to each other made everything more fantastic,” he recalled.
