Argentina skipper Lionel Messi has said that “in principle” last year’s World Cup would be his fifth and final appearance at global soccer’s showpiece event.
The 35-year-old forward led his country to a third World Cup triumph in Qatar in December, saying throughout the tournament that he would not be playing at another edition.
He was persuaded out of international retirement in 2016, however, and many of his compatriots were hoping he might be cajoled into going on to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“I think not. This was my last World Cup,” Messi said ahead of Argentina’s friendly against Australia in Beijing.
“I’ll see how things go but in principle, I won’t go to the next World Cup.”
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The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who recently announced a move from Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami in the United States’ MLS, also paid tribute to his former coach at Barcelona, Pep Guardiola.
Messi and Guardiola won two Champions League titles together at the Catalan club and Messi was delighted the Spaniard had finally clinched club football’s biggest prize with Manchester City last weekend.
“I talk a lot with Pep as we still maintain frequent contact. I am very happy about his achievement, winning the recent UEFA Champions League,” Messi added.
“He is the best coach in the world and although, in my opinion, he didn’t need to win this Champions League title to prove that, it further demonstrates that he is the world’s top coach, which is an achievement he deserves.”
Argentina plays the Socceroos, a repeat of last year’s round-of-16 clash in Al Rayyan, which the South Americans won 2-1 en route to lifting the World Cup trophy.
They play at the newly rebuilt Workers Stadium in the Chinese capital on Thursday night.
