Argentina legend and former Barcelona man Lionel Messi has given the football world a new mystery to solve as he suggests he might not play at the 2026 World Cup.
Many had taken it as a given that the 38-year-old would be present at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico if he was still playing football, but the Inter Miami star has suggested different.
Messi started and played 90 minutes in Buenos Aires on Thursday night, in what was his final competitive game on home soil. He marked the occasion with a brace against Venezuela in a 3-0 win, with Argentina already guaranteed top spot in the South American qualifiers.
“I don’t think I’ll play in another World Cup,” Messi commented after the match, as quoted by Diario AS. “The most logical conclusion is that I won’t be, but here we are. I’m hopeful and eager. But it’s day by day, game by game.”
Lionel Messi warms up prior to the South American FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Argentina and Venezuela. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)
Arguably the greatest football player in history, Messi has been in and out of action with Inter Miami this season with injuries hampering his progress.
“This year we had a lot of matches, a lot of sequences of games. Luckily, I was able to play three in a row; it’s just day by day, feeling the sensations. It’s clear that today was the last one with points at stake here, but day by day I try to feel good and, above all, be honest with myself. If I feel good, I enjoy it. If I feel bad, I’d rather not be here.”
Messi has missed eight games through injury this season but that has not stopped him from scoring. In 34 appearances for Inter Miami, he has managed 27 goals and 11 assists.
The clash against Venezuela represented what Messi saw as a happy ending to international football for him in Argentina.
“A lot of things happened, and to be able to finish this way here was what I always dreamed of. Being able to celebrate with my people… For many years I received a lot of love at Barcelona, and my dream was to also have it here, in my country, with my people. For many years, many things were said, but I’m left with all the good things we did. I’m left with the group that tried and failed to win, but then everything we experienced was beautiful.”
