Soccer icon Lionel Messi remains noncommittal about his potential participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, maintaining a cautious approach despite recently leading Argentina to the summit of South American World Cup qualifiers. The 38-year-old Inter Miami superstar addressed his future intentions in an exclusive interview with ESPN Argentina ahead of Friday’s highly anticipated World Cup draw.
Messi emphasized taking a realistic, day-by-day approach to his career decisions, stating: “I’m going to take it one day at a time; being honest and trying to be realistic and feel good. This year I felt very good.” The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner acknowledged that playing professionally in the United States creates favorable conditions for considering a sixth World Cup appearance, given the tournament’s North American hosting by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
The soccer legend highlighted the distinct seasonal advantages of MLS competition compared to European leagues, noting: “It catches us at a different point in the season than in Europe. We’re going to start a tough preseason in January and we’re going to have a lot of games in a row with the league and the CONCACAF Champions League.” Messi maintains regular communication with Argentine national team coach Lionel Scaloni regarding his potential role, describing their relationship as “very trusting” and open to discussing all possibilities.
Should Messi compete in the 2026 tournament, he would join Cristiano Ronaldo in surpassing Germany’s Lothar Matthäus record of five World Cup appearances. The Inter Miami squad currently prepares for their MLS Cup final matchup against Vancouver this Saturday.