Lionel Messi has admitted that his role in defending Argentina’s title at next year’s 2022 World Cup will depend on health factors.
Published October 28, 2025
Lionel Messi, still chasing international glory nearly 20 years into his career, has admitted that his role in defending Argentina’s title in 2022 will depend on age and fitness, and says he wants to play at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
The Argentine great recently extended his contract with Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami until 2028, suggesting he is not thinking of retiring just yet, despite turning 39 next June.
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In an interview with NBC News, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said he will take time next year to assess his health before deciding whether to play in tournaments in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“It’s special to be able to play in the World Cup and I would love to play,” the Argentina captain said in an interview published on Monday.
“If I’m there, I want to be there, stay healthy and play an important role to help the team. Next year, when we start pre-season at Inter, I’ll evaluate it daily and see if I can really give 100%, if I can be useful, and then I’ll make a decision.”
“I’m really enthusiastic because it’s the World Cup. We won the last tournament so it’s great to be able to defend on the field again because it’s always a dream to play for the national team.”
Messi has a professional career spanning more than 20 years, making his debut with Barcelona in 2004 at the age of 17, before playing for Paris Saint-Germain before joining Inter Miami in 2023. It sparked renewed interest in the American League at a critical time for sports in North America, with next year’s World Cup on the horizon.
Although Messi has racked up countless club and individual accolades, he did not find international success until winning the Copa America 2021, before defeating France 4-2 on penalties to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
“This was a dream of my life,” Messi said of the win.
“It was also true that that was the only thing missing at the professional level, because I was lucky enough to achieve everything at Barcelona, both on an individual level and on a team level. I think that’s every player’s dream. If you ask any player what their dream is, it’s to become world champion.”
Messi has played in 195 games and has scored 114 goals, a record for his country. If they return to the 2026 World Cup, it will be their sixth appearance in the tournament.
