Messi:
Argentine striker: “I will see how things go, but theoretically I don’t think I will be around for the next World Cup.”
After helping Argentina win the World Cup in Qatar last year, Lionel Messi, 35, said in an interview with Chinese media on Tuesday that he “doesn’t think” he would participate in another World Cup.
In a video interview with China’s Titan Sports, he was asked if he may play in the 2026 tournament in North America. “I have said several times before that I don’t think so, that that (2022) was my last World Cup,” he responded.
In the video posted on the Kuaishou app, he said in Spanish, “I will see how things go, but theoretically I don’t think I will be around for the next World Cup.”
Argentina will play an exhibition game against Australia on Thursday in Beijing, where the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is presently located.
His remarks follow his prior statement that it would be “very difficult” to participate in another World Cup, which he made to the Argentinian daily Ole earlier this year.
During the next competition, he will turn 39.
Last week, Messi said he will leave Paris Saint-Germain after his two-year contract expired and join MLS team Inter Miami.
The friendly match between Argentina and Australia will take place on Thursday at Beijing’s 68,000-seat Workers’ Stadium.
The game is a rematch of their World Cup last-16 encounter in Doha, which Argentina won 2-1.
Chinese fans have been clamouring to get tickets to see the former Barcelona great play, and despite prices jumping to 4,800 Yuan ($671), they have been quickly purchased.
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