Lionel Messi, the renowned Argentine forward playing for Inter Miami, has expressed his openness to participate in the 2026 World Cup held in the United States.
After leading Argentina to their third World Cup victory in Qatar, where Messi’s exceptional performance earned him the prestigious Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player, fans eagerly await his decision regarding future international competitions.
Despite being 36 years old, Messi continues to impress as he dons the blue and white jersey of his national team.
Following his return from the Middle East as a World Cup champion, Messi not only secured his second FIFA Best Men’s Player accolade but is also expected to claim a record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or.
Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, has consistently expressed his desire to see Messi represent the country once again in the 2026 World Cup.
However, the decision ultimately rests with Messi himself. In an interview with Argentinian comedian Migue Granados on OLGA, Messi refrained from immediately ruling out the possibility of his participation in the next edition of the tournament.
While Messi acknowledged the upcoming Copa America, set to take place in the United States in 2024, as his immediate focus, he highlighted the importance of assessing his physical condition and the competitive level of the league before committing to the World Cup.
Messi stated,
“It still seems a long way away. Yes, my goal is to play in the Copa America, which is also here in the United States and next year. After, we’ll see. It principally depends on how I’m feeling. We’ll have to see about the league here, the level of competition. I don’t know.”
Messi’s presence in Major League Soccer (MLS) with Inter Miami has garnered worldwide attention and has undoubtedly contributed to the anticipation surrounding the upcoming USA World Cup.
With 11 goals and five assists in just 12 appearances for his new team, Messi continues to showcase his exceptional skills and leadership abilities.
Recently, Messi experienced a setback due to a muscular injury. His return to action against Toronto on September 21 was cut short, but despite his absence, Inter Miami emerged victorious with a comfortable 4-0 win.
The team’s head coach, Gerardo Martino, explained that Messi’s injury issues are related to old scar tissue, and his fitness is being evaluated daily in preparation for the US Open Cup final clash against Houston Dynamo.
Alongside his impressive performances in domestic matches, Messi has made significant contributions to the Argentine national team since the World Cup, scoring six goals and providing an assist in four games.
This feat solidifies his position as Argentina’s all-time top scorer and appearance maker, boasting an astonishing tally of 104 goals and 56 assists across all competitions.