Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has expressed his desire to feature for Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, though he says the final decision will depend on his physical condition.
The 38-year-old Inter Miami forward, who captained Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, said he hopes to be part of the team’s title defence in the tournament to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
In an interview with NBC News, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who turns 39 next June, said he will evaluate his fitness before making any commitments.
“I’d love to be there and be an important part of helping my national team, but I’ll see next year how my body feels,” Messi said.
He added that he intends to assess his condition during pre-season training with Inter Miami, noting that his goal is to determine whether he can be “100 percent” fit and “useful to the group and the national team.”
Messi, who began his professional career with Barcelona at age 17, later played for Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2023. He described the idea of defending Argentina’s title as “spectacular” and said it is “always a dream to play for the national team, especially in major competitions.”
The Argentine captain, who holds a record 195 international appearances and 114 goals for his country, also spoke about his life in the United States, describing Miami as a city that allows him and his family to “live well, enjoy life, and be at peace.”
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