Lionel Messi has admitted he may not feature in the 2026 World Cup.
The Argentina captain said age and fitness will decide his future after scoring twice against Venezuela in qualifying.
Lionel Messi has admitted he is uncertain about featuring in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, raising fresh speculation about the future of one of the greatest players in football.
The 38-year-old Argentina captain remarked that netting twice in a 3-0 victory over Venezuela in Thursday’s World Cup qualifier could mark his final appearance in such a fixture on home soil.
Messi, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, explained that his age and physical condition will determine whether he joins the squad in the United States, Mexico, and Canada next summer.
“As I’ve said before, I don’t think I’ll play another World Cup. At my age, it’s only logical to think I might not,” Messi told TyC Sports.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner emphasized that he struggles to enjoy football when not fully fit, suggesting that his decision will largely depend on how his body responds in the coming months.
“Match by match, I’ll finish the season, then have preseason, and in six months, I’ll see how I feel,” he added.
