Lionel Messi is hopeful he will be playing for Argentina to help defend its World Cup title when soccer’s biggest event comes to North America next summer, though the Inter Miami captain acknowledged his age will be a significant factor in the decision.
Speaking with NBC News’ Tom Llamas, Messi said he will see how his body feels next year before choosing whether to play. “It’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup, and I would love to,” Messi said, though he admitted his age, he will be thirty-nine next June, is a factor.
“I would like to be there, to be well and be an important part of helping my national team, if I am there,” Messi added. “And I’m going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start preseason next year with Inter [Miami] and see if I can really be 100%, if I can be useful to the group, to the national team, and then make a decision. Obviously, I’m really eager because it’s a World Cup. We’re coming off winning the last World Cup, and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular because it’s always a dream to play with the national team, especially in official competitions.”
Messi has been playing professionally since 2004. He debuted in La Liga with Barcelona in October of that year at only seventeen years old, becoming at the time the youngest player to play for the Spanish club.
In 2021, Messi left Barcelona in the wake of the club’s financial issues, moving to France to play for Paris Saint-Germain. After two years with PSG, Messi brought his talents to the United States in July 2023, signing with MLS’ Inter Miami.
“The truth is that I like everything about living here,” Messi told Llamas in an interview that aired on “Nightly News” about his life in Miami. “I spent a lot of time in Barcelona, which for me is an extraordinary city, where I grew up and had many spectacular moments, and which we miss a lot. But Miami is a city that allows us to live very well, that allows us to enjoy life, that allows us to be calm, that allows the kids to be themselves and live day to day.”
While he enjoyed a decorated individual and club career, international success eluded Messi until the 2022 World Cup, when Argentina defeated France 4-2 on penalties to win the final. Messi won his second Golden Ball and was voted the tournament’s best player.
The World Cup victory was Argentina’s first since 1986. Messi has appeared in one hundred ninety-five matches for his country since 2005, scoring one hundred fourteen goals.
“It was the dream of my life,” Messi said of the win in 2022. “It was also true that it was the only thing missing at a professional level because I had been lucky enough to have achieved everything at an individual level, at a team level with Barcelona, and I think that’s every player’s dream.”
The 2026 World Cup will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first time the tournament will be held across three nations. The expanded format will feature forty-eight teams, up from thirty-two in previous editions.
Messi’s potential participation would make the 2026 tournament his sixth World Cup appearance, having previously played in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. He has scored thirteen goals across those tournaments, establishing himself as one of the competition’s all-time great performers.
The question of whether Messi will play at thirty-nine reflects both his enduring quality and the physical demands of elite soccer. Few players have maintained world-class performance into their late thirties, though Messi’s exceptional career suggests he could remain competitive if his body cooperates.
His performance in MLS has demonstrated continued excellence. Messi recently won the 2025 Golden Boot after recording twenty-nine goals in just twenty-eight games for Inter Miami. He also won the 2024 MLS MVP award and is nominated for the 2025 edition, potentially becoming the first player to win the honor in consecutive seasons.
Inter Miami announced Thursday that Messi has signed a contract extension through the end of the 2028 MLS season, securing his services for three additional years. The extension includes plans for him to inaugurate the team’s new Miami Freedom Park stadium in 2026.
Argentina enters the 2026 World Cup as defending champion, having captured the title in Qatar. The team’s core remains largely intact, though several key players will also be in their late thirties by the tournament.
Messi’s decision will likely influence Argentina’s preparations and expectations. As captain and the team’s most decorated player, his presence would provide leadership and attacking threat even if his role becomes more limited than in previous tournaments.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has revolutionized soccer during his two-decade career. His move to MLS has elevated the league’s profile internationally and driven record attendance and merchandise sales.
His life in Miami has provided stability for his family while allowing him to continue competing at a high level. The combination of professional success and personal satisfaction makes his current situation ideal as he contemplates one final World Cup appearance.
The preseason assessment he mentioned will be crucial. Messi’s approach reflects mature understanding of his body’s capabilities and limitations. Rather than committing prematurely, he plans to evaluate his fitness and determine whether he can contribute meaningfully to Argentina’s title defense.
If Messi does participate in 2026, it would cap a remarkable international career that includes Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024 in addition to the 2022 World Cup triumph. His legacy as one of soccer’s greatest players is already secure, but defending the World Cup on North American soil would provide a fitting conclusion to his international career.
Source: NBC
