Messi Hints at 2026 World Cup Return, Says Fitness Will Decide His Future with Argentina

Lionel Messi has hinted that his story with Argentina might not be over yet, revealing he hopes to play in the 2026 World Cup — though he admits his age and fitness will ultimately determine that decision. Nearly two decades into his illustrious career, the Argentine icon remains motivated by the dream of once again wearing his nation’s colors on football’s biggest stage.

The 37-year-old superstar, who will turn 39 next June, recently extended his contract with Inter Miami until 2028. The move signals that retirement is not on his mind just yet, even as he acknowledges the physical demands of competing at the highest level.

Speaking to NBC News, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said he will take time next year to carefully evaluate his condition before deciding whether to join Argentina in defending their 2022 World Cup crown across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

“It’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup, and I would love to,” Messi said in the interview released Monday. “I would like to be there, to be well and be an important part of helping my team, if I am there. I’m going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start preseason next year with Inter and see if I can really be 100%, if I can be useful and then make a decision.”

Messi’s potential sixth World Cup would be a historic feat, capping a career that began when he made his Barcelona debut at just 17 in 2004. His journey has since taken him from the Camp Nou to Paris Saint-Germain, and now to Major League Soccer, where he has brought unprecedented global attention to Inter Miami and the league itself.

The Argentine captain’s international legacy, once clouded by near misses, was transformed after he led Argentina to the 2021 Copa América title and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar — a triumph he described as “the dream of my life.”

“It was also true that it was the only thing missing at a professional level because I had been lucky enough to have achieved everything at an individual level, at a team level with Barcelona, and I think that’s every player’s dream,” Messi reflected. “When you ask a player what their dream is, it’s to be world champion.”

With 195 international appearances and a record 114 goals for Argentina, Messi’s possible return in 2026 would not just be a personal milestone — it would be another chapter in a career that continues to inspire the football world.