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LOS ANGELES — Superstar Lionel Messi has opened up about the deep personal significance of his 2022 World Cup victory and his cautious optimism about playing in the 2026 tournament, stating his health will ultimately dictate his participation.
The 38-year-old Inter Miami forward confirmed his \”eagerness\” to join the Argentina squad in the United States, Mexico, and Canada next summer, but stressed that he remains \”day by day\” in his assessment.
\”I’m trying to feel good and, above all, being honest with myself,\” Messi told NBC News. \”When I feel good, I enjoy it, but when I don’t… I prefer not to be there.\”
Messi reflected on how the World Cup title—finally secured after years of eluded international success—was the ultimate professional prize. Before 2021, when he claimed the Copa América, his legendary career had been missing major senior international silverware.
\”It was the dream of my life,\” Messi said of the 2022 triumph. \”It was also true that it was the only thing missing at a professional level because I had been lucky enough to have achieved everything at an individual level, at a team level with Barcelona… When you ask a player what their dream is, it’s to be world champion.\”
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star scored twice in the 2022 final and netted his penalty in the shootout, securing the Albiceleste\’s first World Cup since 1986.
With Argentina already qualified, the primary question surrounding the team is the fitness of its captain. A return in 2026 would mark his record sixth World Cup appearance, a remarkable feat given his age.
Despite his previous acknowledgment that his age made another World Cup unlikely, Messi\’s commitment to the national team remains strong. He now plans to use his Inter Miami preseason next year as the crucial period to gauge his physical readiness and his ability \”to be useful\” to the title defense effort.
Is there any other information regarding the 2026 World Cup or Inter Miami you would like me to look up?
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