Lionel Messi, at almost 39 years old, wishes to participate in the 2026 World Cup, assessing his physical condition before making a decision.

Lionel Messi, the legend of Argentine football, stated that he hopes to play in the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America, acknowledging that his age and physical condition will influence his role in defending the title won by Argentina in 2022. Recently, Messi extended his contract with Inter Miami until 2028, a sign that he is not considering retirement, even though he will turn 39 in June. In an interview, he emphasized the importance of participating in a world tournament and mentioned that he will assess his physical condition during the preparations for the next season. Messi, who has a career spanning over 20 years, has won numerous individual and team awards, but only recently achieved international success, with victories in the Copa America 2021 and the World Cup 2022. With 195 matches and 114 goals for the national team, a potential participation in 2026 would mark his sixth appearance in a tournament.