Currently, Messi is representing Argentina on the international stage in China, as they prepare for their upcoming friendly matches against Australia on Thursday.
Lionel Messi, the Argentinian captain, announced on Tuesday that he has no plans to play in the 2026 World Cup. Messi, who is now 35, led La Albiceleste to the World Cup glory in FIFA World Cup 2022 that was held in Qatar in the month of December last year, in what was his fifth appearance in the tournament. It was Argentina’s third World Cup title victory and first since 1986 which was led by the legendary Diego Maradona and with their first win coming in 1978 which was led by Daniel Passarella.
Despite Messi consistently stating during the World Cup that it would be his final appearance, there was some hope among Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, teammates, and fans that the iconic seven-time Ballon d’Or winner might still participate in the 2026 World Cup, which is to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Recently, Messi told Chinese sports outlet Titan Sports when asked about the 2026 World Cup: “I think not. [Qatar] was my last World Cup. I’ll see how things go, but as it is right now, no, I won’t go to the next World Cup.”
Messi had a major role at the World Cup in Qatar to end his wait for the only major honour he wanted the most in his career and in the 2022 World Cup, the legendary seven-time Ballon d’Or winner played a crucial role in Argentina’s victory, scoring an impressive tally of seven goals. Notably, he achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the only player ever to score in every round of a World Cup since the introduction of the Round of 16 in 1986. Among these goals, two were scored in the final against France, a match that went down to the end and was ultimately decided with a penalty shootout. Messi’s exceptional performance earned him the prestigious Golden Ball award, making him the first player in World Cup history to win it twice, having also claimed the honor in 2014 when Argentina finished as runners-up, losing 1-0 to Germany.
Currently, Messi is with the Argentina squad for the international stage in China, as they prepare for their upcoming friendly matches against Australia on Thursday, followed by a match against Indonesia four days later. Just last week, the former Barcelona player made an official announcement regarding his future plans, stating his decision to join Inter Miami CF, a Major League Soccer team, once his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires on June 30.
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