Lionel Messi has confirmed what Argentina fans already feared - Sunday's final will be his last World Cup game
(Image credit: Getty)
Argentina great Lionel Messi has reiterated that Sunday’s final will be his last appearance at a World Cup.
The 35-year-old was in inspired form as he helped the Albiceleste beat Croatia 3-0 in Tuesday’s semi-final with a goal from the penalty spot and a dazzling assist for Julian Alvarez.
Lionel Messi put in another special performance to take Argentina within one win of their third World Cup (Image credit: GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)
“It’s my last World Cup,” he said after the game.
“It’s impressive to end up playing a final. There’s a long way to go for the next one, there are many years and surely because of age I won’t get to it.”
The World Cup is the only major honour missing from Messi’s trophy cabinet after an illustrious career from one of the greatest players of all time.
Messi reached the World Cup final in 2014, but Argentina suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Germany in extra time.
“It’s the sixth (World Cup) final that Argentina is going to play and I’ll have played in two,” Messi said.
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“Hopefully this time it ends up another way.”
The World Cup began with a shock for Messi and co., losing 2-1 to Saudi Arabia (Image credit: Getty Images)
Messi has been in superb form in Qatar and is the joint-top scorer along with France’s Kylian Mbappe on five goals.
“Personally I’m very happy, I’m enjoying it a lot and I’m happy that I’m able to help my squad make things happen,” he said.
Lionel Scaloni’s side recovered to top their group ahead of Poland, Mexico and the Saudis, before beating Australia 2-1 in the last 16, knocking the Netherlands out in the quarter-finals on penalties following a 2-2 draw, and thrashing Croatia 3-0.
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Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.
