For Lionel Messi, “winning the 2022 World Cup was a dream come true.” So much so that the Argentine would like to defend his title on the field, at the 2026 World Cup. But he guarantees that he will only do so “if he is 100%” and feels that he can be “useful to the team”.
In an interview with North American television station NBC, the Inter Miami player said he hopes to be able to help the team in the World Cup. “It’s going to be spectacular. It’s something extraordinary to be able to be at a World Cup and I would like to be here [nos Estados Unidos]feel good and feel part of the team. I’ll see if I can be 100%. Being able to defend the title on the field would be spectacular. It’s always a dream to play for the national team.”said the Argentina number 10.
Messi (38 years old) believes he can still play for three more years and that’s why, last week, he renewed his contract with Inter Miami until 2028, when he will be 41 years old.. “I felt very good this year and I feel happy living in Miami, just like my family”, said the player who is competing in the play-offs of the North American championship, MLS.
A month and a half ago, at the Monumental in Buenos Aires, many Argentines feared that this game with Venezuela, to qualify for the World Cup, could be Messi’s last official one with the Argentina shirt. Now the captain admits he wants to continue being an option and go to another World Cup.
Like Cristiano Ronaldo (40 years old), the Argentine is looking for his sixth participation in the competition, after having participated in the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 editions. Messi is the footballer with the most World Cup appearances, with a total of 26, one more than German Lothar Matthaus.
Going to the 2026 World Cup will be writing another chapter in the stratospheric fight that has been maintained with the Portuguese captain, who seeks in the national team’s double commitment – with the Republic of Ireland, on November 13th, and with Armenia, three days later -, to guarantee the passport to the next World Championship, which will take place from June 11th to July 19th, 2026, in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
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