After leading Argentina to its first World Cup victory in 36 years, Lionel Messi has announced that he would not retire from international football.
After the South Americans defeated France 4-2 on penalties following a 3-3 draw, Argentine TV station TyC Sports questioned the Paris St. Germain forward about his future.
Next year, Messi will turn 36, but he still feels he has a lot to give his nation.
“I love football, it’s what I do,” he said.
“I enjoy being in the national team and want to continue by experiencing a few more games as a world champion.”
He added: “Obviously I wanted to cap my career with this and I can’t ask for anything more.”
In his sixth World Cup, Messi scored twice in the championship game and made a penalty kick in the shootout.
After scoring seven goals, he was given the Golden Ball, which is given to the tournament’s outstanding player.
Messi stated that 2017 World Cup in Qatar will be his final competition because he will turn 39 during that tournament.
For the 2026 competition, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, manager Lionel Scaloni has stated that he wants Messi to be a part of his team.
“First of all, we need to save him a spot for the next World Cup 2026,” he said.
“If he wants to keep playing, he’ll be with us. I think that he’s more than entitled to decide whether he wants to keep playing for Argentina or not, or what he wants to do with his career.
“It’s such a huge pleasure for us to coach him and his team-mates.
“Everything that he meets until his team-mates is something unparalleled, something I’ve never seen before. A player, a person who gives so much to his team-mates.”