Lionel Messi will characteristic for Argentina on the subsequent World Cup in 2026, based on former nationwide staff participant Jorge Valdano.
The PSG ahead ended his career-long wait to carry soccer’s most prestigious trophy after Sunday’s closing noticed Argentina emerge victorious in opposition to France after a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win.
There had been solutions that the PSG star had plans to retire after the World Cup, nonetheless Valdano claims he spoke with Messi and insisted the ahead vowed to stay with the nationwide facet in the event that they have been profitable in Qatar.
Lionel Messi will return for Argentina through the 2026 World Cup, based on Jorge Valdano
Jorge Valdano was a part of the Argentina nationwide facet that gained the World Cup again in 1986
Talking to Spanish radio station Cadena Cope, Valdano stated: ‘After I interviewed him earlier than the World Cup, off digital camera he instructed me that he was going to play in his fifth World Cup and that no footballer had performed six; he instructed me that it was unimaginable, and he instructed me ‘if I am a World Champion I am going to preserve my shirt on till the subsequent World Cup’.
‘We are going to see if Messi is succesful. Soccer has proven that it’s virtually unimaginable to play in six World Cups.’
Within the fifth World Cup of his profession, Messi lastly lifted the trophy after a hard-fought contest with France needed to be settled with a penalty shoot-out.
He scored in each spherical of the knockout phases – in opposition to Australia, Holland, Croatia and France – to assist guarantee their first World Cup win since 1986.
Messi ended his career-long wait to win the World Cup after Argentina’s win over France
The PSG ahead wheeled away in celebration after giving Argentina the benefit
After the sport, Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni doubled down on the insistence that Messi wants to stay with the nationwide staff.
Scaloni stated: ‘We have to save him for the subsequent World Cup – 2026. If he needs to maintain enjoying, he will likely be with us. He’s greater than entitled to determine what he needs to do together with his profession now.’
The 35-year-old scored a brace within the match – with a first-half penalty and extra-time effort – earlier than slotting away his spot-kick within the shoot-out that adopted.
A hat-trick from France’s Kylian Mbappe within the 3-3 draw proved futile as Messi and Argentina stormed to victory for the primary time within the competitors since 1986.
The 35-year-old scored two objectives as he impressed his nationwide facet to victory in Qatar
