Argentina: One of the most admired soccer player in the world, Lionel Messi has declared that the World Cup in Qatar this year will be the last World Cup in his career.
The 35-year-old made the announcement on his future with Argentine national team.
“This will undoubtedly be my final World Cup.” Messi informed Argentine journalist. Messi, who has six goals in the past four World Cups, will compete in his fifth World Cup in Qatar.
Four of those goals came in 2014, when the Paris Saint Germain (PSG) star guided Argentina to the championship game where they lost 1-0 to Germany. Even while Messi might have lost out on winning trophies with his nation back then, he was eventually able to lift an international trophy when the team won the Copa America in Brazil last year.
With 90 goals in 164 games for Argentina (109), Messi is the third highest goal scorer in men’s international football history, after Cristiano Ronaldo (117) and Iran’s Ali Daei.
After Argentina lost to Chile in the Copa America final in 2016, Messi declared his retirement from international football. However, the player swiftly changed his mind, and has since continued as the team’s captain.
While Messi has made plain his position on his future with the national team, it is still unknown where he will play club football in the upcoming season.
When Messi’s PSG contract expires, the playmaker is rumored to be eager to return to Barcelona, and the Catalan giants can afford to bring him back to the Nou Camp.
However, a lot of challenges must be solved for the transfer to be successful, including mending Messi’s rift with Barcelona president Joan Laporta. After the World Cup, Messi is anticipated to make a decisive decision regarding his club future.