US EditionMessi's Plans for 2026 World Cup? 'One Day at a Time'
Messi plans to decide his participation day by day while praising Argentina's strong squad depth and confidence as they defend their 2022 World Cup title.
- Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Lionel Messi said he wants to be there for Argentina but will decide 'day by day'.
- Coming off the 2022 victory, Messi said Argentina’s national squad is full of winners and should leverage the current strong phase as new players keep arriving.
- In conversations with coach Lionel Scaloni, Messi said Scaloni wants him involved in any role, and Messi will decide his participation one day at a time based on his body.
- Argentina believes it can challenge again, with group cohesion and training sessions helping newcomers fit in and boosting the national team’s title-defense prospects.
- The World Cup draw is on Friday, and with the MLS season's tough January preseason, if Messi plays he and Cristiano Ronaldo would surpass Lothar Matthäus's five editions.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Associated Press News
Messi's plans for 2026 World Cup? 'One day at a time'
Lionel Messi isn’t saying if he plans to play in the 2026 World Cup. The 38-year-old star led Argentina to the top of the standings of South America’s World Cup qualifiers, but he hasn’t confirmed if he’ll help his country defend its 2022 title.
Messi shocks fans with sceptical 2026 World Cup claim: At worst, I will be watching
Lionel Messi has shocked football fans by admitting he may not play at the 2026 World Cup, even as he stressed his desire to join Argentina’s title defence. The world champions will travel to North America without any confirmation from their captain, whose future remains uncertain as he nears his 39th birthday.
Messi Leaves the Door Open for the 2026 World Cup: His “Day-to-Day” Approach Fuels Argentine Expectations
Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, made it clear that his participation in the 2026 World Cup is still undecided. At 38 years old, the Inter Miami star explained that he evaluates “day by day” how he feels physically before making a decision about what would be his sixth appearance at a World Cup. In an interview with ESPN, he stated that 2024 was a year in which he felt “very good,” but he avoided fully committing to the tournament.
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