(Beijing) Argentina’s reigning world champion Lionel Messi, 35, said in an interview with Chinese media on Tuesday that he “doesn’t think” to compete in the next World Cup in 2026.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or is currently in Beijing, where he will participate in a friendly match with Argentina against Australia on Thursday, and where his arrival is arousing great enthusiasm.
Asked by the Chinese media Titan Sports about the possibility of seeing him play the 2026 World Cup jointly organized by Canada, Mexico and the United States, Lionel Messi was reserved.
“I have already said it several times, I believe not,” he said during a long video interview broadcast by the sports newspaper on the Chinese platform Kuaishou.
“It was my last World Cup (in Qatar last year). I’ll see how things go, but in principle, I don’t think I’ll go to the next World Cup, “he said in Spanish to the Chinese journalist present at his side.
At the beginning of February, Lionel Messi had already been pessimistic about participating in the next World Cup.
“It’s going to be very difficult because of my age,” he told Argentinian newspaper Olé.
“I’m happy to play football, I love what I do and as long as I feel in good physical condition and continue to enjoy it, I will do it. But it seems very far to me until the next World Cup. »
On the other hand, the “Pulga” has largely confided in the Ballon d’Or which will be awarded at the end of October and of which he is one of the great favorites with the Norwegian striker of Manchester City Erling Haaland.
“I’ve always said individual rewards aren’t what motivate me, but collective rewards have always been the most important thing to me,” he said.
And to estimate that the victory in the final of the World Cup, a trophy which was missing from his immense prize list, is more than enough to make him happy: “The truth is that at this stage of my career, if all goes well and if nothing does not happen either (as I wish), and I think I got the World Cup, which I was missing, I am more than satisfied and grateful for the career I had. »
“Which, in the end, is the most important thing,” concluded the former PSG and Barça player.
The Argentine star, who touched down in Beijing on Saturday, will lead the reigning world champions against the Socceroos at the newly refurbished 68,000-capacity Beijing Workers’ Stadium on Thursday.
Chinese fans rushed to approach their hero, and match tickets of up to 4,800 yuan ($892) sold out very quickly.