Argentina's Lionel Messi is expected to play again in the next World Cup. (Photo: CFP)
Lionel Messi's hopes of playing in another World Cup seem to have been rekindled! Recently, Argentina national teammate Cristian Romero spoke out publicly, saying that the Argentine soccer legend still has the potential to shine at the next World Cup (2026), even though Messi will be 39 years old by then.
Looking back to last year's World Cup in Qatar, Messi led Argentina to a glorious win, and at the time there were many voices calling for Messi to make a hasty retreat and officially announce his retirement from the national team. Messi himself has also publicly stated that the 2022 World Cup will probably be his last.
However, a new report from the Daily Mail reveals that Romero, who currently plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, has revealed that Angel Di Maria has stated that he will continue to play for the national team, and that he similarly expects Messi to do the same, and believes that Messi is in excellent physical condition and is confident that he will appear at the next World Cup, but that it is ultimately Messi's personal choice.
Another national team comrade, Alexis Mac Allister, who now plays for Brighton in the English Premier League, also said, "I have no doubt that we will still see Messi in the next World Cup, whether he is 40 or 45, he is always the best player in this world!"
Aleister further emphasized, "Messi is in great shape, his mind is full of strategies and there is absolutely no problem for us to keep running for him."
▲Messi is still in pretty good shape at the moment.
