Lionel Messi on 2026 FIFA World Cup: "I would like to be there"

Will Lionel Messi play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has said he hopes to help Argentina defend their world title at the next edition of the quadrennial football tournament – if he is fit enough to do it.

“The truth is that yes, it’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup,” Messi said in an interview with NBC’s Thomas Llamas. “I would like to be there. To feel well and to be an important part of helping my national team, if I am there. And I’m going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start pre-season next year with Inter and see if I can really be 100 per cent.”

The 2026 FIFA World Cup starts on 11 June and will be held in cities across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

If he chooses to compete, the 2026 edition would be the sixth World Cup for Messi, who will turn 39 during the tournament. The final at Qatar 2022 was his 26th World Cup appearance, 19 of which he made as Argentina’s captain.

“I’m really eager because it’s a World Cup,” said Messi, who also helped Argentina to gold at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. “We’re coming off winning the last World Cup, and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular because it’s always a dream to play with the national team, especially in official competitions, so hopefully God will allow me to do it once again.”

Messi sat down with Llamas over the weekend, after announcing on 23 October that he is extending his contract with Inter Miami through 2028.

The Argentine player has scored 29 goals with 15 assists in 28 MLS appearances this season and is among the favourites to win the league’s MVP award.

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