Lionel Messi is not ruling out playing in World Cup 2026 — and has revealed he has never watched the 2022 final of the tournament.
Messi will be 38 when the next World Cup starts in 2026 — and will turn 39 during the tournament — which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The Argentina international said after the semi-final victory over Croatia in 2022 that the Qatar World Cup would be “his last”.
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However, Messi has not yet retired from international football and will represent his nation as they look to defend their Copa America title this summer in the U.S.
The Inter Miami star’s international team-mate Alexis Mac Allister has previously explained that the rest of the Argentina squad has urged Messi to remain in the squad for the World Cup 2026.
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In an interview with InfoBae, Messi has clarified that he has yet to make a decision on his participation in the World Cup
“It depends on how I feel, how I am physically and knowing whether I’m at the level to be able to compete and help my team-mates,” Messi said when asked about his involvement in 2026.
“There is still a long time until the tournament, but it goes quickly. I don’t know how I will be in that moment and if I feel I will be at the level to help my team-mates.
“Age is also a reality, even if it is a number, and then there are my (club) games. They’re not going to be the same as when I played in European competition, which were every three days; in the Champions League or league, either in France or Spain.”
Messi also revealed that he has never watched the final of World Cup 2022, when he scored twice in a 3-3 draw against France before also scoring in the penalty shootout — in which Argentina triumphed to win their first World Cup since 1986.
Messi said that he feels “embarrassed” watching his matches back and the same was true for the final in Qatar.
“My memories are all here and I remember everything,” Messi said. “There’s a lot of things that escape me but for now I stay with what I have without going back over it.”
Messi made his Argentina debut in 2005 and has scored 106 goals in 180 international caps.
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(Daniel Ramalho/AFP via Getty Images)
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