Argentine star Lionel Messi has publicly stated his ambition to play for Argentina in the 2026 World Cup, aiming to defend the nation’s title if his physical condition allows.
The 37-year-old forward, who plays for Inter Miami, made the remarks in an interview with U.S. television station NBC. He hopes to be fit for the tournament, scheduled for June 11 to July 19, 2026, across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
“It’s going to be spectacular,” Messi said. “It’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup, and I would like to be here [in the United States], to feel good and feel part of the national team. I’m going to see if I can be 100 percent, because being able to defend the title on the field would be spectacular. It’s always a dream to play for the national team.”
Last week, Messi renewed his contract for three years with Inter Miami, extending it until 2028. He cited his good physical condition as the reason for the extension, at a time when he is competing in the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs.
“I always said that I base myself on how I am today, day by day, on how I feel physically and mentally,” he explained. “I felt very good this year, and I feel happy living in Miami, as does my family.”
Winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was the fulfillment of his “life’s dream,” according to Messi. He recalled the many sacrifices he made to achieve that title.
“What I went through and what I journeyed to achieve this was the dream of my life, which came true,” he affirmed, highlighting his family, his people, and Argentina in that context.
The 2022 victory marked Messi’s fifth World Cup appearance, following his participation in the 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 editions. He has also led Argentina to titles in the Copa América (2021 and 2024) and the FinalÃssima (2022), a match between the champions of Europe and South America.
Messi holds the record for the most games played in World Cups, with 26 appearances, surpassing German Lothar Matthaus by one. He ranks fourth on the list of top World Cup goal scorers with 13 goals, behind Gerd Müller (14), Brazilian Ronaldo (15), and leader Miroslav Klose (16).
The Argentine star has accumulated 41 goals and 20 assists in 2025, for a total of 61 direct goal contributions in just 48 games. In his senior career, he has recorded 918 goals and 412 assists, totaling 1,330 contributions in 1,186 matches.