WASHINGTON: Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina football team, wants to continue playing for his country until the Copa America in the United States the following year.
The 36-year-old football legend had previously remained uncertain about his plans to continue representing the Albiceleste and had mentioned in June that he felt he was nearing the end of his career. However, he now aims to continue in the short term.
While Messi has his eyes set on the Copa America, he considers the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico a more distant prospect.
In a recent interview published on social media, he stated, “I still don’t think about it; it’s far away. I’m thinking about Copa America and want to perform well. It will be held here in the United States, which will be beautiful. We already had the centenary edition of the Copa America in 2016 here, too. Although we lost the final to Chile, the journey was beautiful. After that, I’ll assess my situation.”
Messi has been fine since joining Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS) in July, scoring 11 goals in 12 appearances. In August, he led the Florida-based team to their first trophy, the Leagues Cup title, and has played a pivotal role in revitalizing the MLS team.
Inter Miami was at the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference standings upon his arrival, but Messi has given them a shot at making the playoffs.
In a wide-ranging interview, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star also expressed his interest in remaining involved in Football beyond his playing days. He said, “Football is my job, and I am fortunate to have a job I love. I have responsibilities and goals, but I still enjoy doing it. What comes next? I’m not sure yet. I would like to work as a sports director, mentoring and working with young talents.” —Xinhua/APP
