Argentine superstar, Lionel Messi, has said this year’s tournament in Qatar will be the final World Cup of his career.
The 35-year-old forward announced the news on his future with the Argentina national team on Thursday.
Messi said: “This will be my last World Cup — for sure. The decision has been made.
“I’m counting down the days until the World Cup. The truth is, there’s a little anxiety, saying: ‘Well, we’re here, what’s going to happen? It’s my last one, how’s it going to go?’.
“On one hand, I can’t wait for it to arrive but I’m also desperate for it to go well.
“We’re at a very good moment, with a very strong group, but anything can happen at a World Cup.
“All the matches are difficult, that is what makes a World Cup so special because the favourites are not always the ones who end up winning or even doing as well as you expect.
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“I don’t know if we are the favourites, but Argentina in itself is always a candidate for history, for what it means. We are not the favourites, I think there are other teams that are above us,” the seventh time Ballon d’or winner stated.
Messi is set to play in his fifth World Cup in Qatar – he has scored six goals in the previous four editions of the tournament.
Four of the goals came in 2014 when the PSG star led Argentina to the final where they were beaten 1-0 by Germany after extra-time.
He later got his hands on an international trophy when he lifted the Copa America last year in Brazil.
Messi’s record for Argentina stands at 90 goals in 164 games, making him the third-highest goalscorer ever in men’s international football behind Cristiano Ronaldo (117) and Iran’s Ali Daei (109).
Messi announced his retirement from international football in 2016 after losing in the Copa America final against Chile, but he quickly reversed his decision and has since remained the captain of the team.
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