Lionel Messi has made a surprising admission about his participation in the 2026 World Cup, with the Argentina star currently non-committal about his international playing future.
Messi admitted, after scoring a hat-trick against Bolivia this week in front of his home fans, that ‘these could be my last games.’
And on Thursday – while receiving Marca’s America Legend Award – the 37-year-old revealed his happiness is a priority over playing at the next World Cup.
‘If I can do what I love, I am happy. I value that more than reaching the 2026 tournament,” he said via ESPN. I have not set a goal to reach the World Cup, but rather to live from day to day and be healthy.’
On his potential participation in the tournament in two years’ time, he added: ‘We’ll see later. I don’t like to speed up time or look ahead. I try to enjoy every day. I hope I can continue playing at this level so I can feel good and happy.’
Lionel Messi received Marca’s America Legend Award in Miami on Thursday
Messi scored a hat-trick for Argentina earlier this week, but is non-committal about his international future
Messi’s wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, was in the stands as the Argentina star accepted his award
Naturally, Messi played a huge role in helping Argentina take the 2022 World Cup to the next level – their first since 1986.
Messi finished second in Qatar with seven goals, while his Argentina side eventually defeated France and Kylian Mbappe in the final.
On Thursday, Messi was accompanied by his wife Antonela Roccuzzo as he accepted the award from Marca.
Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas was also present.
Miami will enter the MLS postseason as the No. 1 seed in the East, although Messi has played in just 18 of his club’s 33 league games.
Nevertheless, he has a good chance of winning the MVP award as he has scored seventeen goals and provided eleven assists.
Messi and Antonela shared a kiss on stage as Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas stood behind them
Messi arrived in Miami in the summer of 2023 in a blockbuster move for the MLS and insisted on Thursday that he did not see this as an opportunity to relax.
In fact, he led the club to its first trophy by winning the Leagues Cup last year.
‘The step I took to get here [to Inter Miami] didn’t mean I was going to retire,” he said. ‘We came here to try to continue to make this team great, to help its development by winning the titles we have, and we are about to achieve even more.’
Miami will face the New England Revolution this weekend in their final game of the regular season.
