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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
Sport
Asharq Al-Awsat

Messi Has Doubts about Playing 2026 World Cup at Age 39

Lionel Messi World Cup Lionel Scaloni 2026 Argentina Ole Kylian Mbappé Canada Mexico Paris St Germain
Football - Ligue 1 - Montpellier v Paris St Germain - Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier, France - February 1, 2023 Paris St Germain's Lionel Messi during the match. (Reuters)

Lionel Messi may be in doubt as to whether he’ll be still playing for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup but he’s sure about one thing: he wants Lionel Scaloni to stay on as head coach until then, regardless.

The 35-year-old Messi led Argentina to the title in Qatar last December and wasn’t entirely sure if his fifth trip to the World Cup would be his last. The next edition will take place in Mexico, Canada and the United States when Messi is 39.

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