Lionel Messi has
confirmed that this year’s tournament in Qatar will be the final World Cup of
his career.
The 35-year-old announced
the news on his future with the Argentina national team on Thursday.
‘This will be my last
World Cup — for sure. The decision has been made,’ he told Argentine journalist
Sebastian Vignolo.
Messi is set to play in
his fifth World Cup in Qatar – he has scored six goals in the previous four
editions of the tournament.
Four of those came in
2014 when the PSG star led Argentina to the final where they were beaten 1-0 by
Germany after extra-time.
He may have missed out on
winning silverware with his country then, but he finally got his hands on an
international trophy when he lifted the Copa America last year in Brazil.
Messi’s record for
Argentina stands at 90 goals in 164 games, making him the third-highest
goalscorer ever in men’s international football behind Cristiano Ronaldo (117)
and Iran’s Ali Daei (109).
Messi announced his
retirement from international football in 2016 after losing in the Copa America
final against Chile, but he quickly reversed his decision and has remained the captain
of the team ever since.
He has changed his mind
on retirement in the past, but appears to be happy with his choice this time
around.
Whether he stops playing
for Argentina immediately after the World Cup remains to be seen, but he has
made it clear that he will not be continuing on until 2026.
While he has clarified
his stance on his international future, where Messi will be playing his club
football next season is still unclear.
The playmaker is
understood to be keen on a return to Barcelona once his PSG contract expires,
and the Catalan giants can afford to bring him back to the Nou Camp.
However, there are a
number of obstacles that need to be overcome in order for the move to go
through, including repairing his relationship with Barcelona president Joan
Laporta.
Messi is expected to make
a final call on his club future after the World Cup.
RELATED ARTICLE:
NSS MONTHLY EVALUATION FORM FOR SEPTEMBER 2022 OUT
RED HOT: MOHAMMED KUDUS GRABS BRACE FOR AJAX IN FIRST LEAGUE START
IÑAKI WILLIAMS TO MAKE SECOND INTERNATIONAL DEBUT WITH GHANA
PAYMENT NOTICE NSS PAYS JUNE 2022 ALLOWANCE
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN COUPLES, LOVE, RELATIONSHIP ADVICE, RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS, RELATIONSHIPS