In the history of soccer, there are only a few players who have captured the world’s attention like Lionel Messi. The Argentine maestro’s incredible ability with the ball and his unwavering dedication to his national team has earned him countless accolades.
Lionel Messi has won countless trophies and titles in his illustrious career. However, the player was eluded by one trophy for a long time in his career. Like any other soccer player, Messi wanted to win the FIFA World Cup.
For the longest time, his dream of lifting the coveted trophy remained unfulfilled. Messi came close to winning the World Cup in 2014, but the team fell short and lost the final. That is, until the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The former Barcelona player was finally able to lift the priceless trophy. The player has now admitted that had Argentina not emerged victorious, he might have stepped away from international soccer.
Lionel Messi revealed, “To be honest, if we hadn’t been the World Champions… I wouldn’t be in the National Team anymore.” He further added, “Since I’m a World Champion, I can’t retire from international football yet and I have to enjoy it all.”
❗️Leo Messi to @SofiMMartinez: “To be honest, if we hadn’t been the World Champions… I wouldn’t be in the National Team anymore.” 🗣️🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/wuduTp9ygk
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) June 15, 2023
These words encapsulate the immense significance of Messi’s World Cup triumph. The player even confessed to considering taking a well-deserved vacation after the recent win against Australia.
Lionel Messi talks about the World Cup future after Argentina’s win over Australia
It is a serious doubt if the world of soccer will ever find another player like Lionel Messi. Therefore, it is no surprise that fans do not want to see the player retire from international soccer.
Furthermore, the player is also very loved by his teammates, who do not want him to retire either. However, in a recent interview after the win against Australia, Messi seemed uncertain about the next World Cup.
The player shared, “Now there are World Cup qualifiers and Copa America, and it is very far away to think about the next World Cup. We must enjoy what we have achieved. I think due to age, it is difficult to play another World Cup.”
❗️Leo Messi to @gastonedul: “Now there are World Cup qualifiers and Copa America, and it is very far away to think about the next World Cup. We must enjoy what we have achieved. I think due to age, it is difficult to play another World Cup.” pic.twitter.com/U5tfsXft4j
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) June 15, 2023
Furthermore, the player also talked about how much he enjoys being on the national team. He revealed, “We always enjoy being here. A new cycle begins. This continues and we have to think about what comes next. We continue with the same idea and looking to continue growing.”
His comments, however, gave some hope to the fans, as the player is looking forward to growing and helping the national team achieve new heights.