Frank Christian
In December 2022, Lionel Messi achieved a significant milestone in his illustrious career by winning the World Cup with Argentina in Qatar, a title that had previously eluded him.
At 37 years old and currently playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, it is uncertain whether he will participate in the 2026 World Cup to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
Messi will be 39 during the tournament, which raises the possibility of him opting out to preserve his legacy of having last played on the grand stage while raising the trophy at Lusail Stadium.
However, if he chooses to compete again, both players and fans are likely to welcome him enthusiastically.
Sergio Aguero, a former teammate who now watches from the sidelines, anticipates that Messi will participate in another major international competition.
Aguero, who played with Messi for the national team until his retirement in 2021 due to health issues, expressed his firm belief to ESPN 12 (per Goal) that Messi will contribute to Argentina’s quest to defend their title.
“I believe Messi will be ready for 2026; he looks after himself well,” Aguero stated.
“He may not be the same player he once was, but he can still deliver during free-kicks and assists.”
“If he wishes, he has the physical ability to compete, thanks to his commitment to fitness.”
How many World Cups has Lionel Messi participated in?
To date, Messi has competed in five World Cups: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and the successful 2022 edition.
During his debut at the 2006 tournament in Germany, few anticipated the level of talent he would later demonstrate.
Throughout subsequent tournaments in South Africa, Brazil, and Russia, he emerged as a key player, with the question lingering over whether he would ever claim the trophy.
That question was resolved during the most recent tournament, fulfilling a long-held dream for the forward.
If he participates in the 2026 event, it will mark his sixth World Cup appearance.
Reasons Messi might skip the 2026 World Cup
Messi has several factors to contemplate regarding his potential participation.
Benefits of playing in the 2026 World Cup include:
- Setting the record for the most World Cup appearances with six, surpassing players like Lothar Mattheus, Antonio Carbajal, and Cristiano Ronaldo who currently share the five appearances mark.
- The possibility of playing a World Cup match in his current club’s home stadium, Inter Miami.
- Extending his record for the most World Cup games played, which is currently at 26, and staying ahead of Matthaus, Klose, and Ronaldo if they also compete in the following tournament.
- Generating substantial excitement among fans in North America regarding his presence.
On the flip side, there are several compelling reasons for Messi to consider not participating:
- He may choose to retire at the conclusion of his Inter Miami contract in late 2025.
- Ending his World Cup journey on a victorious note by winning the trophy could be an ideal farewell.
- This could allow emerging talent in Argentina to gain valuable experience now that they have recently won the tournament.
- If he feels unprepared when the tournament arrives, he may prefer to avoid concluding his World Cup legacy negatively at the age of 39.
