JABAR EKSPRES – The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is set to be Lionel Messi‘s last World Cup, the player said in an interview with Chinese media.
Messi confirmed that he “doesn’t think” he can feature in the 2026 World Cup to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada after successfully leading Argentina to last year’s world championship in Qatar.
“I have said several times before that I don’t think so, 2022 is my last World Cup,” he said when asked by China’s Titan Sports in an interview quoted by Jabarekspres.com.
“I’ll see how things go, but in theory I don’t think I’ll be around for the next World Cup,” he added.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is currently in Beijing where Argentina will play a friendly against Australia on Thursday before flying out to play Indonesia on June 19.
His comments come after he told earlier this year to Argentine newspaper Ole that it would be “very difficult” to play in another World Cup. Messi will be 39 years old when the 2026 World Cup takes place.
Messi was last week confirmed to join MLS side Inter Miami after his two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired.
Argentina will play a friendly Thursday against Australia at the 68,000-capacity Workers Stadium in Beijing.
The match is a replay of the round of 16 tie between the two teams at the 2022 World Cup, which Argentina won 2-1.
