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DOHA. — Lionel Messi says he will not retire from international football after captaining Argentina to a first FIFA World Cup trophy in 36 years.
The Paris St-Germain forward was asked about his future by Argentine TV station TyC Sports after the South Americans beat France 4-2 on penalties following a 3-3 draw on Sunday. Messi turns 36 next year but believes he has plenty to offer his country.
“I love football, it’s what I do,” he said.
“I enjoy being in the national team and want to continue by experiencing a few more games as a world champion.”
He added: “Obviously I wanted to cap my career with this and I can’t ask for anything more.”
Messi had retired from international football in 2016, after he had blasted his penalty over the bar in Argentina’s Copa America final penalty shoot-out with Chile.
The little magician had experienced another final loss — two years after his World Cup final loss to Germany. Messi said: “For me, the national team is over. I’ve done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion.”
However, after a change of coach, Messi came out of retirement – and with Argentina, he conquered South America in 2021, and then the world in Qatar on Sunday.
Messi, playing in his fifth World Cup, scored twice in the final and also converted a penalty in the shoot-out.
He won the tournament’s Golden Ball – awarded to the best player — after scoring seven goals. Messi will turn 39 during the next World Cup and he had hinted previously that this edition in Qatar would be his last. However, coach Lionel Scaloni says he wants Messi in his squad for the 2026 tournament, which will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. — BBC Sport
Online Reporter