After the defeat of Argentina before the selection of Spain last Sunday, July 19, in the final of the 2026 World Cupthe immediate future of Lionel Messi generates numerous questions around the world, since the Albiceleste captain has not yet confirmed whether he will continue with the national team, of which he has been a part since August 2005.
Frequently considered the best player in the world and one of the best of all time, the forward Inter Miami He has represented Argentina in 14 major tournaments since participating with the national team. sub-20 in the South American Championship Colombia and won the 2005 U-20 World Cup, in which he was the highest scorer.
Furthermore, as captain of the Albiceleste since 2011, Messi reached the finals of the World Cup with Argentina. Brazil 2014the 2015 Copa América, the Copa América Centenario and the 2026 World Cup, and won the Copa America 2021the Finalissima 2022, the 2022 World Cup —against France, at the Lusail stadium— and the Copa América 2024.
Therefore, the presence in Argentina of the only footballer in history who has won, among other distinctions, eight Golden Balls has become indispensable, and millions of fans cannot imagine a major tournament without Messi, given that the last one was the Copa América del 2004when the Albiceleste lost the final on penalties against Brazil.
Will Lionel Messi play in the 2030 World Cup?
Although the final against Spain was not his best performance, Lionel Messi enjoyed a World Cup extraordinary and defied the passage of time, since, at the age of 39, he won the World Cup more productive of his career in his sixth participation, leaving rivals behind with the half of his age and lead Argentina to the decisive match.
However, La Roja managed to neutralize the Argentine star with an outstanding defensive performance, and the Albiceleste He found no other offensive responses. So, no matter how current he remains, not even Messi is eternal and the end of his World Cup career has always been a question of when, although that answer remains unclear.
“The truth is that I’m not thinking about that right now. It seems like there’s a lack of quite a whilebut, as I always say, I live day to day and I am focused on the present. As long as I can contribute, I feel good physically and can help my teammates, I think I will continue playing,” declared Lio Messi in the run-up to the final against Spain.
For his part, the Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni highlighted Messi’s physical condition at 39 years old: “It’s incredible, but he was very clear in saying that he will play as long as he wants. I hope people are proud of our captain and what he has done. It is the better footballer who has stepped on a field,” added the coach after the defeat against La Roja.
Messi’s age in 2030
For the 2030 World Cup, Messi will have 43 years recently fulfilled, so, even so, it would not equal the record of the most veteran in the history of the World Cups, held by the Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadarywho played the 2018 Russia edition with 45 years and 161 days. However, playing as a goalkeeper is different.
Therefore, according to Brandthe main national sports newspaper in Spain, in Lionel Messi’s closest circle is rumor that the Argentine star wants to retire from the Albiceleste after the Copa América del 2028just when his current contract with Inter Miami, his American Major League Soccer club, expires.