Lionel Messi Drops Bombshell, Won’t Play in 2026 World Cup

Lionel Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, recently announced that he has no plans to participate in the 2026 World Cup.

Messi’s exceptional performances led the Albiceleste to triumph in Qatar, securing global glory and completing his outstanding medal collection. Prior to the tournament, the 35-year-old hinted that he would not return for another World Cup, and he has now reaffirmed this position after disclosing his imminent move to the United States to join the MLS franchise Inter Miami.

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In an interview with Chinese outlet Titan Sports, when asked about the possibility of extending his international career until the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Messi stated, “I don’t think so. This was my last World Cup. I’ll see how things go, but as a general rule, I won’t participate in the next World Cup.”

The Larger Context

Argentina’s manager, Lionel Scaloni, had been anticipating Messi’s involvement in defense of their global title, expressing his hopes that the captain would continue playing for a few more years.

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Scaloni remarked, “We are keeping the door open for him, and if we find that it’s not possible, we will look for an alternative. I hope he makes it to the next World Cup; I can envision him there. However, the primary focus is to secure qualification.”

Currently, Messi is part of the Argentina squad, which is in China for a friendly match against Australia. With an impressive record of 174 caps and 102 goals for his country, he remains a vital asset to the national team.

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