Messi: “Will career end with Albiceleste title”

Argentina’s star Lionel Messi is not sure whether he will be the one to play for the Albiceleste at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“I don’t know yet whether I’ll make it to the Qatar World Cup or not. God will decide if that happens. A lot can happen, but I hope I won’t have any big injuries,” the FC Barcelona offensive player told Fox Sports Argentina.

So far, the 31-year-old – Olympic gold excluded – still lacks a title with the national team in his collection of trophies. The desire to change this remains: “I want to end my career with a title at the Albiceleste and if not, then at least I want to have tried it. That’s why, of course, I try to seize every opportunity that presents itself.”

After a long season with FC Barcelona, for which he scored 51 goals across the competition, the left foot still feels in good shape. “Right now I’m fine, I’m physically at a high level. However, I’m already almost 32 and I don’t know how that will develop,” says Messi about his form.

The Copa America will be on the Argentinian national team’s agenda in mid-June. In the group phase Messi and Co. meet Colombia, Paraguay and Qatar.

At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, La Pulga and his compatriots did not make it past the round of sixteen, where world champions France were the final destination. At the tournament before (World Cup 2014 in Brazil) Albiceleste lost to Germany in the final of Maracana.