Lionel Messi's response about playing in the 2026 World Cup

More than two years have passed since Lionel Messi reached the pinnacle of world football in Qatar. Now, at 37 years of age, the Argentine captain has once again addressed the question that keeps millions of fans wondering: will he play in the 2026 World Cup? He did not give a definitive answer, but his words suggest that the door remains slightly open. Calm, experienced, and honest, Messi prefers not to rush a decision—but he is not ruling anything out either.

"If you think about it, it's far away, but at the same time it goes by really quickly," he said in a recent interview. That sense of time—something only the greats truly understand—reflects the reality he faces today. The next World Cup still feels distant, but the countdown has already begun. Every match, every season, every training session matters more than ever.

More than anything, he made it clear that he will not make decisions based on nostalgia or pressure. "It's about seeing how I feel physically, above all, and being honest with myself about whether I should be there or not." That sentence reveals a core value that defines Messi: honesty. He will not go to the World Cup just for the name on the back of the shirt. If he goes, it will be because he truly believes he can still perform at the highest level.

His influence at Inter Miami and in the Argentine national team remains immense, but sustaining that standard comes at a price. The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will be longer and more demanding than ever before, with 48 teams and a packed schedule. It will test even the youngest squads—let alone a player who would be 38 by the time the tournament kicks off.

2026 and a decision only time will shape

Messi has nothing left to prove. Qatar 2022 was the ultimate triumph, the dream fulfilled. But the competitive fire still burns. And while time may force him to think more carefully, he has never followed conventional rules.

When the World Cup begins in June 2026, Lionel Messi will have just turned 38. Many players retire long before that. But Messi is not most players. If anyone can defy the odds and leave us speechless once again, it is him.

For now, the world waits. Fans dream. Argentina watches. And Messi? He trains, he plays, he lives in the moment. And maybe, just maybe, he is thinking about one final dance.