Lionel Messi WILL lead Argentina out at the next World Cup, claims Jorge Valdano – as 1986 winner reveals iconic No 10 told him privately before Qatar ‘if I’m a world champion I’ll keep my shirt on’ for 2026 edition
- There were claims that Lionel Messi had planned to retire from international duty
- However, after their World Cup final success, that looks increasingly unlikely
- Argentine legend Jorge Valdano has claimed he spoke with Messi prior to Qatar
- He said the PSG vowed to stick with the national side if they won the World Cup
- Click here for the latest news and updates following the 2022 Qatar World Cup
Lionel Messi will feature for Argentina at the next World Cup in 2026, according to former national team player Jorge Valdano.
The PSG forward ended his career-long wait to lift football’s most prestigious trophy after Sunday’s final saw Argentina emerge victorious against France after a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win.
There had been suggestions that the PSG star had plans to retire after the World Cup, however Valdano claims he spoke with Messi and insisted the forward vowed to stick with the national side if they were successful in Qatar.
Lionel Messi will return for Argentina during the 2026 World Cup, according to Jorge Valdano
Jorge Valdano was part of the Argentina national side that won the World Cup back in 1986
Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena Cope, Valdano said: ‘When I interviewed him before the World Cup, off camera he told me that he was going to play in his fifth World Cup and that no footballer had played six; he told me that it was impossible, and he told me ‘if I’m a World Champion I’ll keep my shirt on until the next World Cup’.
‘We will see if Messi is capable. Football has shown that it is practically impossible to play in six World Cups.’
In the fifth World Cup of his career, Messi finally lifted the trophy after a hard-fought contest with France had to be settled with a penalty shoot-out.
He scored in every round of the knockout stages – against Australia, Holland, Croatia and France – to help ensure their first World Cup win since 1986.
Messi ended his career-long wait to win the World Cup after Argentina’s win over France
The PSG forward wheeled away in celebration after giving Argentina the advantage
After the game, Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni doubled down on the insistence that Messi needs to stick with the national team.
Scaloni said: ‘We need to save him for the next World Cup – 2026. If he wants to keep playing, he will be with us. He is more than entitled to decide what he wants to do with his career now.’
The 35-year-old scored a brace in the match – with a first-half penalty and extra-time effort – before slotting away his spot-kick in the shoot-out that followed.
A hat-trick from France’s Kylian Mbappe in the 3-3 draw proved futile as Messi and Argentina stormed to victory for the first time in the competition since 1986.
The 35-year-old scored two goals as he inspired his national side to victory in Qatar
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