Lionel Messi to retire from International Football after Qatar World Cup 2022. Read more here

Lionel Messi has confirmed that the last match of the current FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar on Sunday (December 18) will be his final game for his nation. In the Fifa World Cup, 2022 Messi has been the top scorer and has been playing a key role in the assist, Messi helped Argentina in the semifinal match against Croatia and the team is just one step from winning the World Cup. He scored the opening goal for his squad against Croatia and then assisted Julian Alvarez's third goal.

After Argentina's victory, Messi revealed his retirement intentions to Argentine media source, Diario Deportivo Ole, indicating that Sunday's summit clash will be his final game for the South American powers.

“I feel very happy to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final," Messi told Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole.


"It's many years for the next one and I don't think I'll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it's the best," added the Argentina captain.

The 35-year-old is at his fifth World Cup, one more than Diego Maradona and Javier Mascherano.

Messi broke Argentina's World Cup scoring record with his third penalty of the tournament, giving him 11 goals in total – one more than Gabriel Batistuta.

He also equaled the record for most World Cup appearances by playing for the 25th time, matching Lothar Matthäus of Germany.

Argentina will be facing the 2018 Champion France or Morocco in the Final of the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 on December 18, 2022.

FAQ

When was the first Fifa World Cup played?
1920 was the year the first Fifa World Cup was played.

When was the last time Argentina won the Fifa World Cup?
Argentina has won twice the World Cup, the last world Cup was won in the year 1978.