The 2022 World Cup in Qatar next month will be Lionel Messi‘s last appearance in the World Cup.
The 35-year-old Argentine star, who is in his fifth World Cup, is still seeking his first title at the Exhibition Championship, which starts on November 20 this year, and admits he is nervous before making his final appearance on world football’s biggest stage.
Lionel Messi's Last Appearance In Football Biggest Stage As He Plan to Leave National Team
Leo Messi: "It will be my last World Cup, for sure. The decision has been made." 💔#Messi𓃵 #Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/X4hNNAuyzP
— Leo Messi 🔟 (@WeAreMessi) October 6, 2022
“There was some anxiety and nervousness at the same time. It was the last one,” Messi said in an interview with Star Plus.
This is the first time the Messi has spoken publicly about his future after the game, and he is yet to make it clear whether he will retire from the national team after Qatar.
Unbeaten in their last 35 matches, Argentina will enter the World Cup with confidence after winning the 2021 Copa America final against hosts Brazil, which Messi sees as a turning point for his side after several near misses.
Messi said anything can happen at the World Cup, all games are very tough and the favourites don’t always end up winning. He added that, ” I don’t know if we’re the favourites, but Argentina is always a candidate because of its history. Now even more so because of the moment we’re in, but we are not the favourites. I think there are other teams that are above us.”
Lionel Messi announcing that this World Cup will be his last one 😔 pic.twitter.com/FG0QxGVWhd
— TheBarcaAddict (@TheBarcaAddict) October 6, 2022
Argentina won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986. The team will kick off with a Group C match against Saudi Arabia on November 22, before taking on Mexico and Poland.
Messi’s record in Argentina is in stark contrast to his success at club level. Argentina came close to ending a long trophy drought three times, but were beaten by Germany in the 2014 World Cup final and Chile in the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals.
Messi said he have been playing with the national team for a long time and have great moments, like in 2014, 2015 and 2016, but they didn’t win and were criticized for not being champions.
Messi said he would travel to Qatar with a positive outlook, as an older statesman in a team full of young talent, while still enjoying Argentina’s massive Copa America victory last year.
Argentina will face the United Arab Emirates in their final warm-up match in November before taking on Saudi Arabia in their World Cup Group C opener on November 22.
