Lionel Messi, the legendary Argentine forward, recently delivered a stellar performance in what many speculate could be his final competitive home match for Argentina, netting two goals in a convincing 3-0 triumph over Venezuela. However, the crucial question remains: is this truly the twilight of his international career, potentially concluding before the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Despite being 38 years old, Messi continues to showcase remarkable talent for both Argentina and Inter Miami. Nevertheless, the increasing frequency of injuries is becoming a significant concern. These recurring physical setbacks are prompting discussions that could lead him to hang up his boots sooner than expected, possibly ruling him out of the next World Cup.
Following his impressive display, Messi candidly shared his current sentiments, expressing uncertainty about his potential participation in the upcoming global tournament.
“Given my age, it’s most logical that I won`t make it,” Messi stated. “Yet, we are so close to it, and I feel both excited and motivated by the prospect of playing. As I`ve always maintained, I approach things day by day, match by match, guided by how I feel. Every day, I strive to feel good and, above all, to be honest with myself.”
“When I feel good, I truly enjoy the game. But frankly, when I`m not feeling right, I don`t have a good time, and in those situations, I prefer not to be on the field. So, we`ll have to wait and see. I haven`t made a definitive decision regarding the World Cup. I`ll take it one game at a time, complete the current [MLS] season, go through preseason, and then there will be roughly six months left. We`ll observe how I feel. My hope is to have a strong preseason in 2026 and finish this MLS season well, and then I will decide.”
While his desire is to continue playing, Messi highlighted the cumulative impact of injuries, which makes consistent peak performance challenging. He recently missed four matches for Inter Miami in July due to muscular issues, and these problems are becoming more prevalent as he ages. With ten more regular season matches remaining for the Herons, the physical demands on Messi`s body will only escalate. This underscores his need to carefully assess his condition closer to the World Cup. A World Cup without Messi would undoubtedly feel unusual, yet it remains a distinct possibility at this stage. Remarkably, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi could achieve the unprecedented feat of participating in six different World Cups if he represents Argentina in 2026.
Upcoming Match Details: Ecuador vs. Argentina
- Date: Tuesday, September 9
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Location: Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha — Guayaquil, Ecuador
- Streaming: Fanatiz
- Odds: Ecuador +220; Draw +165; Argentina +170
