Following yesterday’s remarkable performance of Lionel Messi and Argentina in the final of the 2022 Fifa World Cup that gave them the trophy, the former Barcelona star has come out to say he will not retire from international football soon. The 36-year-old before the tournament made it clear that this World Cup will his last World Cup but he did not answer if he will continue with the team.
But he finally gave the answer after his side beat defending champions France their 4-2 win on penalties after they played a 3-3 draw in full time and extra time. He said: “I love football, it’s what I do.” “I enjoy being in the national team and want to continue by experiencing a few more games as a world champion.”
He also said: “Obviously I wanted to cap my career with this and I can’t ask for anything more.” Lionel Messi, playing in his fifth World Cup, scored twice in the final and also converted a penalty in the shootout. He won the tournament’s Golden Ball – awarded to the best player – after scoring seven goals. The Argentine will be 39 during the next World Cup and he had hinted previously that this edition in Qatar would be his last.
However, coach Lionel Scaloni says he wants Messi in his squad for the 2026 tournament, which will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The coach said: “First of all, we need to save him a spot for the next World Cup 2026.” “If he wants to keep playing, he’ll be with us. I think that he’s more than entitled to decide whether he wants to keep playing for Argentina or not, or what he wants to do with his career.”
“It’s such a huge pleasure for us to coach him and his teammates.” “Everything that he meets until his teammates is something unparalleled, something I’ve never seen before. A player, a person who gives so much to his teammates.”