Lionel Messi has confirmed the Qatar 2022 final will be his last World Cup appearance when Argentina take on France or Morocco on Sunday.
The 35-year-old scored his fifth goal of Qatar 2022 and assisted on two others in Tuesday’s 3-0 semi-final win over Croatia.
Messi can now look ahead to his second World Cup final appearance, having been runner-up in 2014.
LIONEL MESSI WINS HIS 4TH MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD AT THE 2022 WORLD CUP 🐐🏆
No player has more. pic.twitter.com/5CIpjj45ik
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 13, 2022
Messi Confirms His Last World Cup Appearance For Argentina
It has been claimed that the PSG superstar could retire from Argentina duty after the final, and he has confirmed that it would at the very least be his final appearance in World Cup action.
“I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is really very gratifying,” Messi told reporters after the game.
“Everything I lived in this World Cup has been emotional, seeing how much it has been enjoyed in Argentina.
“There are a lot of years from this year to the next one. I don’t think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant.”
Argentina will face France or Morocco in the final, which will take place on Wednesday at 19:00 GMT, with Messi most likely to make a record 26th appearance in a men’s World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup will be staged in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Messi holds a record seven Ballon d’Or awards and has been voted Fifa Best Men’s Player once.
Other honours include four Champions Leagues, 11 Premier League titles, and a Copa America win with Argentina in 2021.
See Also: We Want To Create History Against France, Says Morocco Coach
Messi, who is currently leading the Golden Boot race in Qatar alongside France’s Kylian Mbappe, became Argentina’s first player to score in four World Cups and their record World Cup scorer with 11 goals.
He made his Argentina debut in 2005, when he was 18 years old, and has since scored 97 goals in 172 appearances.
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