On Tuesday, Lionel Messi made an announcement that he won’t be playing for Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This decision came after his move to Inter Miami and the confirmation of his big deal. Messi stated that he has already played his last World Cup game and doesn’t plan to wear the Argentina jersey in the 2026 tournament.
Last December, Messi led Argentina to win the World Cup, which was their third title. He had hopes from fans, teammates, and coach Lionel Scaloni to change his mind and participate in the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. However, Messi confirmed his decision during an interview with a Chinese sports outlet, saying that he won’t be going to the next World Cup.
During the 2022 World Cup, Messi played a key role in Argentina’s success, scoring seven goals and becoming the first player to score in every round of a World Cup since 1986. He was awarded the Golden Ball for being the best player in the tournament, making him the first player to win it twice in World Cup history.
