Lionel Messi has dropped hints that he might step away from international football before the 2026 World Cup.
The Inter Miami forward, who netted twice in Argentina’s 3-0 triumph over Venezuela in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on Thursday, shared his thoughts after the match.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner suggested that his participation in next year’s World Cup is not guaranteed and will depend on his physical condition.
“Same as I said before about the World Cup, I don’t think I’ll play another. Because of my age, the most logical thing is that I won’t make it. But well, we’re almost there, so I’m excited and motivated to play it,” Messi said.
He further explained his approach to deciding whether to continue with international duty, stating, “Like I always say, I go day by day, going by how I feel. I’m trying to feel good and, above all, being honest with myself. When I feel good, I enjoy it, but when I don’t, honestly, I don’t have a good time, so I prefer not to be there if I don’t feel good. So we’ll see. I haven’t made a decision about the World Cup.”
Messi added that he will assess his situation after the MLS season and preseason. “I’ll finish the season, then I’ll have preseason, and there will be six months left. So, we’ll see how I feel. Hopefully, I’ll have a good preseason in 2026 and finish this MLS season well, and then I’ll decide.”
