Lionel Messi Hints At 2026 FIFA World Cup Appearance

28 Oct 2025, 12:56 by Ernest Victor · Naija News

Lionel Messi has left the door open for a return to the FIFA World Cup stage in 2026 but says he will only make a final decision after seeing how his body holds up next season with Inter Miami.

The Argentine captain, now 38, led his country to World Cup glory in Qatar two years ago and admits the thought of defending that title still excites him.

Speaking in an interview with NBC News aired on Monday, Messi said he would love to represent Argentina again if he feels physically ready.

“It’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup, and I would love to,” he said. “I would like to be there, to be well and be an important part of helping my national team, if I am there.”

The 2026 tournament will be staged across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Messi, who turns 39 next June, knows it would be a challenge to compete at that level again but says his decision will come down to his condition during Inter Miami’s preseason.

“I’m going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start preseason next year with Inter and see if I can really be 100%, if I can be useful to the group, to the national team, and then make a decision,” he said.

For the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, the idea of another World Cup appearance remains deeply personal. “I’m really eager because it’s a World Cup. We’re coming off winning the last World Cup and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular because it’s always a dream to play with the national team, especially in official competitions,” he said.

Messi began his professional career with Barcelona in 2004, where he became the club’s all-time top scorer before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. Two years later, he made the move to the United States to play for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

Speaking about his new life in Florida, Messi said he has found comfort and peace away from the intense spotlight of European football. “The truth is that I like everything about living here. I spent a lot of time in Barcelona, which for me is an extraordinary city where I grew up and had many spectacular moments, and which we miss a lot,” he said.

“But Miami is a city that allows us to live very well, enjoy life, be calm, and let the kids be themselves.”

Messi remains Argentina’s all-time leading scorer, with 114 goals in 195 appearances.