Qatar: Lionel Messi has declared that it will be his final game when Argentina plays either France or Morocco in the World Cup final in Qatar. Messi led Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Croatia in their semifinal game.
Messi will earn his 172nd cap at the weekend when he tries to bring Argentina its first World Cup title since 1986.
“I feel very happy, to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final,” Messi told Argentinian sports outlet Diario Deportivo Ole.
“It’s many years for the next one and I don’t think I’ll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it’s the best,” the Argentina captain further added.
The 35-year-old player has more World Cup appearances than past Argentine greats Diego Maradona and Javier Mascherano combined. Messi also broke Gabriel Batistuta’s previous record of 11 goals for the Albiceleste at a World Cup with his fifth goal in Qatar.
The first player to win ? @Budweiser Player of the Match awards. Lionel Messi is #FIFAWorldCup royalty. ?#POTM #YoursToTake #BringHomeTheBud @budfootball pic.twitter.com/arbsmePtJl
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 13, 2022
“It’s all well and good, but the important thing is to be able to achieve the group objective, which is the most beautiful thing of all,” Messi continued.
“We’re just one step away, after fighting hard, and we’re going to give everything to try to make it happen this time,” the Argentine player commented.
France plays Morocco in the other semifinal and the winner of that match will play Argentina in the final.
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