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DOHA. — Argentina captain Lionel Messi says Sunday’s final will be the last FIFA World Cup game of his career.
The 35-year-old forward scored his fifth goal of Qatar 2022 and helped set up two others in Tuesday night’s 3-0 semi-final win over Croatia.
Playing in his fifth World Cup, Messi has never won the game’s biggest prize.
“I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is really very gratifying,” he said.
“Everything I lived in this World Cup has been emotional, seeing how much it has been enjoyed in Argentina.
“There are a lot of years from this year to the next one. I don’t think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant.”
Argentina will play France or Morocco, who met last night, in the final, when Messi is set to make a record 26th appearance in a men’s World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Messi has won the Ballon d’Or – awarded to the world’s best player – a record seven times and been named FIFA Best Men’s Player once.
Other honours include four Champions Leagues, 11 top-flight titles and Copa America glory with Argentina in 2021.
The World Cup is the one glaring omission, Argentina having lost to Germany in the 2014 final in Brazil.
“We are going to do our best, as we have done up until now, so that this time it really happens – we really win it,” said Messi, who retired from international duty in June 2016 before reversing his decision two months later.
“I have been enjoying it the past few years, being with the national side. I am really enjoying everything that is happening to us.
“To get the Copa America, to reach the World Cup with 36 games unbeaten, and to finish all that trajectory in a final is just incredible.
“I hope the people in Argentina enjoy themselves and what we are doing. They shouldn’t doubt we are giving absolutely everything.”
Messi, who plays for French giants Paris St-Germain, is one of only six men to have appeared in five World Cups, along with German Lothar Matthaus, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, and Antonio Carbajal, Andres Guardado and Rafael Marquez of Mexico.
Currently leading the Golden Boot race in Qatar alongside France’s Kylian Mbappe, Messi became the first Argentina player to score in four World Cups and also became their record World Cup scorer with 11 goals.
He made his Argentina debut at the age of 18 in 2005 and has scored 97 goals in 172 games.
Meanwhile, Messi urged Argentina to overcome one last hurdle after they reached the FIFA World Cup final by defeating Croatia 3-0 on Tuesday night.
Messi was in inspired form in front of an adoring audience at the Lusail Stadium, opening the scoring with a penalty and making two goals for Julián Álvarez. The 35-year-old’s performance led to his manager, Lionel Scaloni, calling him the greatest player of all time and opened up the prospect of Argentina, who had been in danger of an early exit after losing against Saudi Arabia in their opening game in Qatar, finally seeing their star player win the World Cup.
“The first match was a hard blow,” Messi said. “We had been unbeaten in 36 matches. We didn’t think we would lose versus Saudi Arabia. To start in such a way was an acid test for the squad. But this squad proved how strong we are. Every match was a final.
“This leaves a mental load. We have played five finals and have won five finals. I hope this will be the way in the final game. We were confident we would make it as we knew what we are capable of.”
Messi has also allayed fears he is carrying an injury following Argentina’s World Cup semi-final victory over Croatia and insists he ”feels strong”.
Messi was on Tuesday night named Man of the Match for his performance, which was all the more impressive because he appeared to be carrying a thigh problem and could be seen feeling his hamstring throughout the first half. — BBC Sport/The Guardian.
Online Reporter