MESSI: I’D LOVE TO PLAY AT 2026 WORLD CUP, IF MY BODY ALLOWS
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BY MUNIRAT BALOGUN
Football icon Lionel Messi has expressed his desire to represent Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, though he admits his participation will depend on his fitness and ability to contribute meaningfully to the team.
Speaking in an interview with NBC News, the 38-year-old Inter Miami captain and 2022 World Cup winner said he would love to feature in the tournament but emphasised that his decision would be based on how his body feels in the coming months.
“It’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup, and I would love to,” Messi said. “I would like to be there, to be well and be an important part of helping my national team if I am there. I’m going to assess that on a day-to-day basis and see if I can really be 100 per cent, if I can be useful to the group, to the national team, and then make a decision.”
Messi, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, will be 39 by the time the next tournament kicks off in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The Argentine captain said his focus now is on maintaining fitness and performing well with Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer ahead of the new season.
Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, had earlier hinted that Messi remains keen on playing at the 2026 World Cup, though no final decision has been made. Scaloni said both Messi and his teammates are aware of the challenges ahead but noted that the captain’s passion for the game remains undiminished.
“The first thing to say is that both he and his teammates are aware that there is still time, and he is keen to play in the World Cup,” Scaloni had said.
Messi’s cautious stance reflects the realities of age and the physical demands of elite football. He has previously admitted that while he would love to continue representing Argentina, he must also consider his fitness and readiness before committing to another global tournament.
The Inter Miami forward, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history, has enjoyed a glittering international career — winning the Copa América in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022. His potential appearance in 2026 would make him one of the few players to feature in six World Cups, further cementing his legendary status.
As the countdown to the 2026 tournament continues, football fans around the world will be watching closely to see whether Messi decides to make one last appearance on football’s biggest stage.
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