Messi: I Still Want to Play in the World Cup, But the Decision Depends on My Physical Condition

October 28 Report – The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico is quietly approaching. Lionel Messi, the Argentine star who recently renewed his contract with Inter Miami, still hopes to represent his national team when the world's biggest football event arrives in North America next summer, aiming to help defend their World Cup title. In a recent interview with Tom Llamas of NBC News, Messi stated that he will continue to monitor his physical condition before deciding whether to participate.  

"Being able to play in the World Cup is extraordinary, and I would love to take part in the tournament," Messi said, though he admitted that his age—he will turn 39 next June—is a significant factor.  

Messi added, "I hope to be able to represent Argentina in the World Cup, to maintain good form, and if I am there, I believe I can still contribute to my national team. Next year, during preseason training with Inter Miami, I will assess my physical condition based on my daily training—to see if I can truly reach 100%, to see if I can still contribute something to the team and the country, and then make a decision. Obviously, I am very eager to participate because it is the World Cup. We just won the last World Cup in Qatar 2022, and it would be extraordinary to defend the title on the World Cup stage. Playing for the Argentine national team has always been a dream of mine, especially in official competitions."  

Messi began his professional football career in 2004, making his La Liga debut for Barcelona in October of that year at just 17 years old, becoming the youngest player to appear for the Spanish club at the time. In 2021, due to the club's financial issues, Messi left his beloved Barcelona and moved to France to play for Paris Saint-Germain. After two years with PSG, Messi brought his unparalleled football talent to the United States, signing with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.  

"Honestly, I love everything about my life here now," Messi told Llamas about his life in Miami, in an interview aired on *Nightly News*. "I spent a long time in Barcelona, which is an extraordinary city for me. I grew up there, had many wonderful moments, and we still miss it very much. But Miami is also a city where we feel very comfortable living, where we can enjoy life, live peacefully, and let our children be themselves and enjoy happy days."  

Despite achieving early success both individually and at the club level, Messi's peak with the Argentine national team did not come until the latter stages of his career, at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Argentina defeated France 4-2 in a penalty shootout in the final. Messi won his second World Cup Golden Ball and was named the best player of the tournament. This victory in Qatar marked Argentina's first World Cup title since 1986. Since 2005, Messi has made 195 appearances for the national team, scoring 114 goals.  

"It was the dream of my life," Messi said of the 2022 World Cup. "And indeed, it was the only honor I lacked professionally, because I was fortunate to have won everything at the individual level and with Barcelona at the club level. I believe it is every player's dream. When you ask a player what their biggest dream is, without a doubt, it is to win the World Cup representing their country."  

Source: NBC