Argentina star player Lionel Messi has finally said this Sunday’s final will be the last World Cup game of his career. The 35-year-old forward scored his fifth goal for his country in their 3-0 win over Croatia in the semi-finals of the Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup. Playing in his fifth World Cup, Messi has never won the World Cup which is the only prize he is chasing right now.
Lionel Messi Says This is his Last World Cup
After the game the player said: “I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is really very gratifying.” He also said: “Everything I lived in this World Cup has been emotional, seeing how much it has been enjoyed in Argentina.”
“There are a lot of years from this year to the next one. I don’t think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant.” They will play France or Morocco, who meet on Wednesday at 19:00 GMT, in the final, when Messi is set to make a record 26th appearance in a men’s World Cup.
Other honours include four Champions Leagues, 11 top-flight titles and Copa America glory with Argentina in 2021. The World Cup is the one glaring omission, Argentina having lost to Germany in 2014 final in Brazil. “We are going to do our best, as we have done up until now so that this time it really happens we really win it,” said Messi, who retired from international duty in June 2016 before reversing his decision two months later.
Lionel Messi said: “I have been enjoying it the past few years, being with the national side. I am really enjoying everything that is happening to us.” “To get the Copa America, to reach the World Cup with 36 games unbeaten, and to finish all that trajectory in a final is just incredible.”
“I hope the people in Argentina enjoy themselves and what we are doing. They shouldn’t doubt we are giving absolutely everything.” Currently leading the Golden Boot race in Qatar alongside France’s Kylian Mbappe, Messi became the first Argentina player to score in four World Cups and also became their record World Cup scorer with 11 goals. He made his Argentina debut at the age of 18 in 2005 and has scored 97 goals in 172 games.
