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Lionel Messi Gives Definitive Answer on Playing in 2026 World Cup

The soccer legend won his first World Cup title with his home country of Argentina last year.

Madison Williams

Lionel Messi Gives Definitive Answer on Playing in 2026 World Cup
Lionel Messi Gives Definitive Answer on Playing in 2026 World Cup /

Shortly after Lionel Messi announced he was headed to the United States to join MLS’s Inter Miami, the soccer legend was asked if he plans to continue playing so he’s available to play in the 2026 World Cup to help his home country Argentina defend its title.

Messi did say before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar that it would be his last, but that he would continue competing for Argentina’s national team. However, since he won his first World Cup, fans wondered if he changed his mind about 2026. It doesn’t sound like it.

“I don’t think so,” Messi said, via Chinese outlet Titan Sports. “This was my last World Cup. I’ll see how things go, but in principle, no, I won’t go to the next World Cup.”

The 35-year-old will join Inter Miami after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain just weeks ago. He turned down opportunities at his former club Barcelona and the Saudi Arabian Pro League’s Al Hilal.

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Madison Williams
MADISON WILLIAMS

Madison Williams is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where she specializes in tennis but covers a wide range of sports from a national perspective. Before joining SI in 2022, Williams worked at The Sporting News. Having graduated from Augustana College, she completed a master’s in sports media at Northwestern University. She is a dog mom and an avid reader.

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