Regardless that Lionel Messi led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup, he says he’s not done yet.
Following Argentina’s semi-final win over Croatia, the 35-year-old admitted Sunday’s final against France would likely be his last game on the world’s biggest sports stage.
Nevertheless, he plans to proceed playing in Argentina, not less than for now.
“I’m not quitting the team” Messi reportedly said in an interview with the journalist Gastón Edul, who closely deals with the Argentina national team. “I would like to maintain playing as a champion.”
The following World Cup will happen in the summer of 2026, when Messi shall be 38 years old at the start and two weeks before the event he’ll turn 39. The 2026 World Cup shall be held in North America and shall be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
![Argentina's Lionel Messi won the World Cup trophy by beating France on penalties.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/AP22352674861363.jpg?w=1024)
![Messi holds the World Cup trophy surrounded by his Argentine teammates after defeating France in the final of the tournament.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/AP22352685041752-e1671400883595.jpg?w=1024)
Had he been promoted that long, he would have grow to be the first player in history to play in six World Cups. Currently, Messi is one among six players to have participated in five World Cups, the list includes rival Cristiano Ronaldo in addition to Rafael Marquez, Andres Guardado, Antonio Carbajal and Lothar Matthaus.
Messi’s continued cap for Argentina does not imply he’ll last that long, though. The following Copa America – the premier football tournament involving countries and territories from the Caribbean, North, South and Central America – will happen two years earlier in 2024.
The Copa America was originally alleged to be held in Ecuador, but… a recent report indicated that the United States was able to host the eventdespite the nothing has been formally confirmed. In any case, Argentina will enter the Copa America as defending champions by winning the 2021 tournament, where Messi was voted the best player of the tournament.
If Messi were to remain permanently and prepare for the 2026 World Cup, he would removed from the oldest player in the tournament. That honor went to Egypt’s Essam El Hadary, who played in 2018 at the age of 45.