Lionel Messi Wants to Play in 2026 World Cup, Inter Miami's Luis Suarez Says
Argentina star Lionel Messi hasn't closed the door on competing in the 2026 World Cup, according to Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez.
"No, we do talk [about it]. Jokingly, many times, but he [Messi] also has that desire to play in next year's World Cup," Suárez said to Spanish newspaper El País (via ESPN's Adriana Garcia). "Obviously, after being away from the national team for a while, that desire is fading more on my side than on his, but we haven't talked about it [retirement] yet."
Most fans will have expected the 2022 World Cup to be Messi's swan song in the quadrennial tournament. In addition to the fact he'll turn 39 midway through the 2026 installment, he surely can't top what unfolded in Qatar more than two years ago.
Argentina was crowned the champion, while its captain had seven goals and three assists en route to receiving the Golden Ball award.
Messi said in 2023 he was operating with the mindset that "I won't go to the next World Cup."
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner may not have have expected to perform as well as he has in MLS, though. He has 24 goals and 15 assists in 30 league appearances for Inter Miami, and he was the MLS MVP in 2024.
Messi has been just as prolific with Argentina during the World Cup qualifying process. La Albiceleste have already secured a berth in the tournament, and their legendary forward has six goals through nine of their 14 qualifying fixtures.
On his current form, it's easy to see why Messi might think he can hang around for the 2026 World Cup.
