Lionel Messi announces that the 2022 World Cup will be the last of his career as he stays optimistic for his country’s title bid.
Generational talent Lionel Messi revealed on October 6, that his 5th World Cup set in Qatar next month will "surely" be the last of his career.
"It's my last World Cup, surely. I feel good physically, I was able to do a very good pre-season this year, which I couldn't do last year. It was essential to get to where I am, with a good state of mind and a lot of hope," the Argentinian captain told ESPN.
The 35-year-old believes that his team has a good chance of winning the tournament after winning the 2021 Copa America final against hosts Brazil, as he seeks to score his first title at the World stage.
This marks Paris Saint-Germain striker’s first time to speak openly about his future after the tournament, which starts on Nov. 20, but has not specified if he would also retire from the national team after Qatar.
"I don't know whether we are big favorites, but I believe Argentina is a candidate because of its history, which means even more now because of the way we got here," Messi added.
"But in a World Cup anything can happen, all the matches are very difficult. It isn't always the favorites who win it."
Messi made his international debut in 2005 as a substitute against Hungary which lasted about two minutes until he was eventually subbed out again but was enough to convince the team of his talent.
The striker then made a name in the national team and flew to Germany for his first World Cup in 2006.
He went on to play in the 2010 edition in South Africa, 2014 in Brazil, where Argentina reached the final, and 2018 in Russia.
In his decades long career in Argentina, he has won 164 caps and is currently the country's all-time record scorer with 90 goals.
Argentina will kick off their World Cup title bid on November 22 against Saudi Arabia in Lusail, before further Group C matches against Mexico and Poland.
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