Lionel Messi has played in his final FIFA World Cup, but he will leave as the tournament’s champion. After leading Argentina to a stunning penalty shootout victory over defending champions France after a 3-3 draw in extra time, the now 35-year-old all-time great completed his remarkable career haul by winning the biggest prize in the game at Qatar 2022. Lionel Messi finally got the monkey off his back in 2021, when Argentina won their first senior international tournament, the Copa America.
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Argentina star Lionel Messi makes exit
The PSG forward was visibly emotional afterward as he reflected on his first taste of international glory. Until now, the World Cup had eluded him, but he can now say farewell in style. Qatar 2022 will be his final World Cup appearance, according to the man himself. On October 6, when asked if this would be his final World Cup by Sebastian Vignolo on his show ‘In First Person’ on South American streaming service Star+, Lionel Messi replied, Yes, absolutely yes.
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The Argentine superstar will be 39 years old when the 2026 World Cup takes place in the United States, and only a few players have competed in a major international tournament at that advanced age. Lionel Messi stated in March 2022 that he was only concerned with the immediate future and that his long-term plans were unknown. He did, however, allude to the decision that he eventually announced. The truth is that I don’t know,” Messi said after a 3-0 win over Venezuela in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying in March 2022, according to translated postgame comments. “I’m thinking about what’s next… and then there’s the World Cup [in Qatar].
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Is this the last World Cup for Lionel Messi?
Then I’m not sure. Many things will have to be reassessed after the [2022] World Cup, whether it goes well or not, hopefully in the best way. However, many things will undoubtedly change following the World Cup. Several of Messi’s international teammates have also made their long-term plans public. Angel Di Maria, another Argentina international, has also confirmed that he will retire from international football after the 2022 World Cup in order to extend his club career as long as possible.
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There were several compelling arguments for Messi to return in 2026 before he made his decision. With the addition of 48 teams, the World Cup will be a major spectacle. It will also be hosted by a group of countries (the United States, Canada, and Mexico), which could represent a lucrative commercial frontier for Messi. But now that he has tasted glory, he has nothing left to prove — and it is unlikely that he will continue for another four years.
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