'I want to keep playing with Argentina shirt', says Lionel Messi amid retirement rumours

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has refuted rumours of his retirement following his team's World Cup victory against France, stating he wants to continue playing for his country.

Argentina made history by winning their third World Cup. Lionel Messi collected the cherished title in Qatar. In a tightly contested encounter, Kylian Mbappe repeatedly outpowered France to force penalties. Argentina defeated France in the shootout to win the title after a 36-year title drought.

Refuting all rumours of his retirement, Messi told TyC Sports, “No, I’m not gonna retire from the national team. I want to keep playing as World Cup champions with the Argentina team.”


Messi finished with seven goals and three assists. He became the first player to assist in five World Cups during this tournament. He also surpassed Gabriel Batistuta's record of ten goals to become La Albiceleste's all-time leading scorer.


Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said, “We want him to continue. If he wants to keep playing, the ’10’ will always be ready for Messi”.

Argentina had previously won two titles under Diego Maradona in 1978 and 1986. Lionel Messi came close to winning the World Cup in 2014, but Argentina lost the final 0-1 to Germany. The sole resemblance to Messi's 2014 season in Qatar was the Golden Ball trophy for Player of the Tournament. He became the first player in FIFA World Cup history to win two Golden Balls.

Argentina's squad received more awards. Emiliano Martinez was named the tournament's top goalie, and Enzo Fernandes was named the tournament's youngest player.

FAQs:

1. Will Messi continue to represent Argentina?
   Argentina captain Lionel Messi has stated that he would not retire from international football and that he wishes to continue playing as a world champion.
2. Who automatically qualifies for the World Cup in 2026?
   It will be the first World Cup featuring 48 teams, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico all automatically qualifying as host countries.