Lionel Messi achieved his biggest dream to win a World Cup with Argentina last month in Qatar. He’s approaching 36 and has won every possible trophy both in terms of club and country. Logically an international retirement at this point looks to be ideal. However, there can be a possibility of the Argentinean playing in another World Cup.
Lionel Messi at 35, performed exceptionally well in the most recent edition of the World Cup helping Argentina lift the trophy. He was not only the best Argentinean player in the World Cup; he was arguably the best player in the entire tournament. Messi won the Golden Ball as the best player in the tournament.
Lionel Messi scored twice in the final against France to deny an unbelievable Kylian Mbappe hat trick, which dragged the match to the shootout with a 3-3 scoreline. In the end, a much more determined Argentina side beat the French by a 4-2 scoreline. Lionel Messi himself said before the World Cup final that, the final will be his last international match regardless of the result.
However, it looks like; the World cup win has changed the Argentine’s mind. He has talked about playing a few matches in the Argentina shirt beyond the tournament. The World Cup winner has said that he would like to play as a World Champion with the third star added to Argentina’s shirt, resembling their third World Cup win.
Will Lionel Messi play in the 2026 World Cup?
Lionel Messi has made and broken quite a few records with his World Cup 2022 victory. He became the first-ever player to win the World Cup Golden Ball twice. He also became the highest appearance maker in the World Cup with 26. And obviously, Messi is the record appearance maker and goalscorer for the Argentine national team.
Messi playing in the 2026 World Cup would be so special.
You never know… pic.twitter.com/VMii5KYjYM
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) December 18, 2022
The Argentinean great has already appeared in five editions of the World Cup, starting from the 2006 World Cup. Messi reached the final with Argentina in 2014, only to lose against Germany. But had a happy ending in 2022. At this moment the biggest question is, will Messi play his sixth World Cup in 2026?
The Argentine is almost 36 now and will be closing 40 around the next World Cup. It would have been impossible for an outfield player to play for more than 24 years at the highest level. However, he is no ordinary man, and can well and truly appear as a 40-year-old in the next World Cup.
Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni looks to be very hopeful about Lionel Messi playing another World Cup. He has talked multiple times about playing in the next World Cup. He said, “I think Messi can get to the next World Cup. It will depend a lot on what he wants, on whether he feels good,” about Lionel Messi’s potential to partake in the upcoming World Cup.
Scaloni is well aware of Messi’s age and talked about it as well. He said, “Knowing how he is, that he is happy on the pitch and with the national team’s shirt… Age is a handicap, but having him in the group would generate something,” talking about the mental advantage of just having him in the squad. Now It’s definitely all on the Argentine and time will tell his willingness to play in a sixth World Cup.
Discussion about this post