Lionel Messi was integral to Argentina’s World Cup success in 2022 and the 37-year-old is keen to play in the tournament again, according to national team boss Lionel Scaloni
Lionel Messi has reached an agreement about his national team future with Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni, who revealed their star man “wants to play” in the next World Cup.
The Inter Miami forward has been instrumental in Argentina’s success for years, including their recent World Cup victory, and shows no signs of slowing down.
Although fans fear the 37-year-old legend might have had his final bow on football’s grandest stage, Scaloni has dished out some hope in an interview with DSports.
Scaloni said: “The first thing to say is that both Messi and his team-mates are aware that there is still a reasonable amount of time left. Messi and the rest of the team want to play in the World Cup.
“But to be sure, you have to let time pass to see how you get there. He knows very well what we think. I’m not worried; the only thing I want is for him to be happy.”
There is change on its way for the Argentinian national squad, however, as winger Angel Di Maria has called time on his international career after the 2024 Copa America final. The revelation came as he and Messi, who made his Argentina debut before Di Maria, claimed their fifth international trophy together with a 1-0 win over Colombia.
In response to Di Maria’s decision to step down, manager Scaloni added: “When I spoke to him last time, he was very clear about it. And well, it’s a stage, from what he said, that is closed. And it happened in the best possible way.
“If he had written his film, his book, his football story, I don’t think he would have written it as well as this. It was a thoughtful and mature decision.”
Messi’s future with the national team is still up in the air, but for now, the focus is firmly set on qualifying for the next World Cup. If Argentina wins their double-header against Brazil and Uruguay, then they will have booked a spot in the tournament, which will take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Meanwhile, Messi’s stint at Inter Miami continues, with his current contract due to expire at the end of 2025. The star does hold an option to extend it by another year, potentially outlasting the upcoming World Cup.
