Lionel Messi continues to expand his legend with every appearance for the Argentine National Team. In the debut of the Albiceleste at the 2026 World Cup, the captain scored all three goals in the victory against Algeria and broke historical records once again. However, once the match was over, attention shifted to a question that has been gaining traction lately: could he play in a seventh World Cup in 2030?
The Rosario native's response was as brief as it was emphatic. "No, no, definitely not", he replied with a smile in the mixed zone when asked about the possibility of being present at the next World Cup, which will be held in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, where he would be 42 years old and close to turning 43.
Just days away from turning 39, the Argentine captain remains the main reference for the Albiceleste and one of the standout figures of the tournament. However, he made it clear that his focus is solely on the present and the challenge of defending the title won in Qatar 2022.
"As I've been saying here, the truth is we are doing well, we are here to compete, as this group has always shown that it competes, that it doesn't relax, no matter the opponent. It always tries to be the protagonist", he stated while analyzing the team's performance.
On the other hand, Messi also highlighted the demand that the tournament presents and appreciated the difficulty of each match. "Today the first half was not easy. It is becoming increasingly difficult to compete. It has been seen in the World Cup, that all the matches are very, very close, and no one gives you anything. We will compete and we will try until we can", he asserted.
Beyond having ruled out a presence in the 2030 World Cup, the captain is experiencing one of the most special moments of his career. World champion, two-time Copa America champion, and holder of practically all possible records with the Argentine jersey, he continues to enjoy a phase that he considers a reward after so many years at the elite.
