Lionel Messi wants to continue playing with Argentina after winning the World Cup
Lionel Messi admitted that there was nothing else he could do in an Argentina jersey to outshine what he achieved in Qatar. But the Argentine World Cup hero has hinted that he could extend his international career.
Lionel Messi is not immediately retiring from international soccer after ending a remarkable career in Argentina’s first World Cup since 1986, preferring to savor the glory for at least a little while longer.
More than once in a heady night in Lusail, it looked as if Messi would be denied a lifelong dream on the fifth attempt. But he added to his two goals and his overall virtuoso performance a penalty in regulation time in a successful debut against France and then confirmed that his 172nd cap would not be his last.
“Of course I wanted to end my career with this, it’s all I can ask for,” he said. “To finish my career like this is impressive. After that, what else? The Copa América, the World Cup, is almost over.
“I love football, what I do. I love being part of the team, of the group. I want to enjoy a few more matches as world champion.
Messi has previously stated that Qatar 2022 will be his last World Cup and there are no indications that it will continue in the short or medium term. But his manager Lionel Scaloni made it clear that he had the door open to be available for the 2026 edition in three and a half years. Messi turns 39 in this tournament, which will be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“We have to secure a place for him in the [next] World Cup,” he said. “If he wants to keep playing, he’s with us. He has more than the right to decide if he wants to keep playing and what he wants to do with his career. He’s a lot of fun to coach. He teaches his teammates, he’s amazing.” ” , I have never seen.
Scaloni, visibly emotional in his post-match press conference, said the positivity was key to the recovery for the Argentines, as they twice walked away from the brink of victory. He also praised the confidence of his goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who saved Kingsley Coman’s penalty.
Of course, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who helped Messi retire from international football after Argentina’s Copa América final loss to Chile in 2016, would be more than happy to see Messi extend his career further. beyond the success in Qatar, and the coach even refused to play. Messi until next year’s World Cup in 2026, when Messi turns 39 during the tournament.
“I told them to be optimistic, that’s the main thing,” he said. “We knew that if we played our game we would create chances in attack. The same thing happened with shooting; we had to stay calm [well] before scoring another goal. Emiliano is a very positive guy and he has told his teammates that he would go. ” to save some penalties. We had so many players ready to face them and that shows our confidence.”
At times, the Scalon players seemed driven by some otherworldly passion. “This team played for the Argentine flag,” he said. “Everybody draws for the whole country. It is the greatest pride. The players broke their backs because they understood what they had to do.
Scaloni and Martínez admitted that Argentina “suffered”, although the goalkeeper said he was “calm” before France’s penalty shootout. Aurélien Tchouameni also deflected the shot.
The Argentine attended a parade held on the Lusail boulevard, next to the site of his triumph, two hours after the end of regulation time, and Scaloni said he was “open to what the players have to say” about future celebrations in his country of origin, where they are safe, should be given an exultant welcome.
