Lionel Messi on future with Argentina and 2026 World Cup: ‘I haven’t made a decision’

If Thursday night was Lionel Messi’s last match that he’ll play for Argentina in his home country, he went out in style.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]

Messi scored twice as Argentina blanked Venezuela 3-0 at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires to maintain their 10-point lead atop the CONMEBOL standings. La Albiceleste have already qualified for next summer’s World Cup.

Following the 2022 World Cup, which Argentina won, there was speculation that the event in Qatar would be Messi’s last. He’s continued representing his national team, but the end is near. Messi, 38, has battled numerous injuries the past few seasons with Inter Miami.

Advertisement

As for whether he’ll be part of the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, Messi said Thursday that he will see how his body feels when it’s time to make a commitment.

“Same as I said before about the World Cup that I don’t think I’ll play another,” Messi said after an emotional night, via The Guardian. “Because of my age, the most logical thing is that I won’t make it. But, well, we’re almost there so I’m excited and motivated to play it. Like I always say, I go day by day, match by match. That’s it, taking it day by day, going by how I feel.

“Day by day, trying to feel good and above all, being honest with myself. When I feel good, I enjoy it, but when I don’t, honestly, I don’t have a good time, so I prefer not to be there if I don’t feel good. So we’ll see. I haven’t made a decision about the World Cup.

“Match by match, I’ll finish the season, then I’ll have preseason, and there will be six months left. So we’ll see how I feel. Hopefully I’ll have a good preseason in 2026 and finish this MLS season well and then I’ll decide.”

As Inter Miami resumes it’s push for an MLS title after this international break and with Argentina already qualified, Messi will not play in their final match on Tuesday in Ecuador.

The Herons currently sit in an Eastern Conference playoff spot 11 points behind the first-place Philadelphia Union. Inter Miami needs Messi fit if they are to win their first-ever MLS Cup.

“I spoke with [Argentina head coach Lionel] Scaloni, and he decided that I should rest, not travel to Ecuador because I’m recovering from a [hamstring] injury,” Messi said. “We prefer to avoid the trip and prepare for what’s coming up well-rested. We’re preparing to win the MLS, and that’s a goal. We have a friendly in October, and we’ll meet again.”