Lionel Messi open to playing in FIFA World Cup 2026 for Argentina: I'm going to keep at it
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Lionel Messi open to playing in FIFA World Cup 2026 for Argentina: I'm going to keep at it
Argentina superstar Lionel Messi has said that he is open to playing in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and commented that he is going to keep playing football.
Messi fulfilled his big dream of lifting the World Cup as he guided Argentina to the trophy in Qatar last year. The 35-year-old finished the tournament with the Golden Ball for the best player of the competition and had seven goals to his name.
In the final, Messi scored a brace as he trumped France and his PSG teammate on penalties to win the big prize. The Argentine superstar had hinted that he would call time on his international career after the World Cup but now it seems like he wants to carry on till the next edition.
As quoted by Reuters, Messi admitted that it would be difficult to play in the 2026 World Cup because of his age. However, he admitted that he loves playing football and is going to keep at it.
The 35-year-old said that his participation in the 2026 edition will depend on how his career is going at that point in time.
"Because of age it'll be difficult to make 2026," Messi, 35, told Diario Ole, a sports newspaper in Argentina. "I love playing football and while I feel like I'm in good shape and enjoying this, I'm going to keep at it. It seems like a long time until the next World Cup, but it depends on how my career is going."
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni had claimed last month that Messi can make it to the 2026 World Cup and said the door will always remain open for him.
"I think Messi can make it to the next World Cup," Scaloni told Spanish radio Calvia FM last month. "It will depend a lot on what he wants and what happens over time, that he feels good. The doors will always be open. He is happy on the pitch, and for us (it) would be good."
