Lionel Messi has cast doubt upon his chances of playing at a 13th major tournament for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. (More Football News)
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has seemingly left the door ajar to a final swansong at the world's biggest international tournament, though he admits his participation will be dependent on how he feels
Lionel Messi has cast doubt upon his chances of playing at a 13th major tournament for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. (More Football News)
The Inter Miami star will turn 39 during that tournament, which takes place in the United States, Ca𓆏nada and Mexico in two years' time.
The eight-time B♏allon d'Or winner has seemingly left the door ajar to a final swansong at the world's biggest international tournament, though he admits his participation will be dependent on how he feel✃s as he edges closer to the end of his glittering career.
"It de𒊎pends on how I feel, on how I am physically," Messi said in an interview with Infobae.
"I have to be realistic with myself and know if I am up to the task of being able to compete and help the team-mates next to me. There is some time left, and I don't know how I will be at that m🐈oment.&n💎bsp;
"Age is also a reality, although it is a number, and the games that I am going to play [at ♍Inter Miami] are notဣ the same as the ones I played when I was in Europe.
"It will depend on how🐓 I feel, what I feel when I'm next to my team-mates, and I'll see if I'mꦿ still up to par or not."
Messi has 12 goals and nine assists in 12 MLS appearances this season, with the Argentina captain set to lead his coun🏅try's bid to retain their Copa America title in the coming weeks.
La♌ Albiceleste kick-off their campaign against Canada on June 20 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and Messi believes the competition at this year's tournament is as strong as it has ever been.
"I think that Argentina is always favourite," he said. "When a tournament starts, be it a World Cup, Copa America or whatever, Argentina is a cand💧idate just like Brazil and more so🃏 in this Copa America.
"But I thi💯nk that today the South American teams are very strong. Uruguay are very good, as are Colombia and Ecuador. I think it will be a very level Copa America."
Lionel Scaloni will take charge of Argentina at a fourth international tournament and will be hopeful his number𓆉 10 can lea🐻d them to glory once more.
Amid talk ꧒it could be Messi's last competition with his country, Scaloni wants supporters to ౠfocus on the present, rather than looking to the future.
"We Argentines are too melancholic. We are already thinking about the day when he is not the😼re, when he is stilওl playing," Scaloni told Telemundo Deportes.
"Let's enjoy it and we'll see tomorrow, because I think the present is so important, not only for Argentina, be🅘cause, in the end, Leo plays f🍃or those who like football. Someday it will happen."