Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, says he will not retire from international football, stressing that he wants to continue playing as a world champion.

Messi scored twice for Argentina in Sunday’s thrilling World Cup final over France as the game ended 3-3 after extra-time, before converting in the penalty shoot-out which his side won 4-2 to claim the biggest prize in football.

“I will not retire. I want to continue playing as a World Cup champion,” Messi said on Sunday.

Speaking on the World Cup victory, he stated: “It’s the most beautiful thing there is. Look what it is, it’s beautiful, I wanted it a lot. God was going to give it to me, I had a feeling that it was this, we suffered a lot, but we got it.

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“Obviously I wanted to close my career with this, I can’t ask for anything anymore. Thank God he gave me everything. Closing almost my career like this, it’s impressive.

“After this, what will there be? I was able to get the Copa America, World Cup… It came to me almost at the end. I love football, what I do. I enjoy being in the national team, the group, I want to continue living a few more games being world champion.

“I can’t wait to be in Argentina to see how crazy that is going to be,” Messi said.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner hugged his family and team-mates after the match while coach Lionel Scaloni, winger Angel Di Maria, who scored Argentina’s second goal, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez could not contain their tears after the final whistle.

Messi has played 172 times for Argentina, scoring 98 goals since making his debut in 2005.

The Star