Lionel Messi is leaving his Argentina teammates in suspense over his plans to take part in the 2026 World Cup, with Leandro Paredes saying he is “not ruling out anything”.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner finally got his hands on the trophy he coveted the most as he led his country to world glory at Qatar 2022. Having completed his medal collection and cemented his position alongside Diego Maradona and Pelé, Messi remained cautious about his long-term international future.
Paredes spills the beans
He initially hinted that he would no longer take part in one of FIFA’s flagship events, but has since softened his stance. Manager Lionel Scaloni hopes to see his captain continue playing, while Gianni Infantino has boldly claimed Messi could continue playing until the age of 47 at the 2034 World Cup.
Paredes is not able to shed light on the thoughts of his illustrious compatriot while players like Nicolas Otamendi and Angel Di Maria are also thinking about whether to stop. “Nico is sure to stay with us for a while. Leo made a comment the other day and said that if things went well and he felt fit, he wouldn’t rule anything out.
Inter Miami star Messi is still part of the Argentina squad for now as the Copa América looms in 2024. The legendary 36-year-old has 180 caps and 106 goals for the Albiceleste .
