Lionel Messi, still chasing international glory after almost two decades in his career, says he hopes to compete at the 2026 World Cup in North America, acknowledging that his age and fitness will dictate his role in Argentina’s title defense in 2022.
The Argentine great recently extended his contract with Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami until 2028, signaling that he has no plans to retire yet despite turning 39 next June.
Speaking to NBC News, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said he would take time next year to assess his fitness before deciding whether or not to compete in the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“It’s something extraordinary to be able to participate in a World Cup, and I would love to,” said the Argentina captain in the interview published Monday.
“I would like to be there, be healthy and play an important role to help my team, if I am there. I will evaluate that day by day when I start the pre-season next year with Inter (and see if I can really be 100%, if I can be useful and then make a decision.
“I’m really looking forward to it because it’s a World Cup. We just won the last one, and to be able to defend it on the pitch again is spectacular because it’s always a dream to play with the national team.”
Messi enjoyed a professional career spanning more than 20 years, making his debut for Barcelona aged just 17 in 2004 before playing for Paris St Germain and joining Inter Miami in 2023. He has sparked new interest in the American league at a critical time for the sport in North America ahead of hosting next year’s World Cup.
While Messi has racked up countless club and individual accolades, international success eluded him until winning the 2021 Copa America before beating France 4-2 on penalties to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“It was the dream of my life,” Messi said of the victory.
“It was also true that it was the only thing that was missing at the professional level because I had the chance to achieve everything at the individual level, at the team level with Barcelona, and I think that is the dream of every player. When you ask a player what his dream is, it is to be world champion.
Messi played 195 matches and scored a record 114 goals for his country. A return for the 2026 World Cup would mark his sixth appearance at the tournament.
