Lionel’ Messi’, the outstanding player for Argentina, has officially announced that this Sunday’s World Cup final will be his final International competitive match.
In the Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup semifinal victory over Croatia, the 35-year-old attacker scored his fifth goal for his nation. Messi is competing in his fifth World Cup, but he has never taken home the trophy, which is the only prize he is now after.
After the game the player said: “I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is really very gratifying.” He also said: “Everything I lived in this World Cup has been emotional, seeing how much it has been enjoyed in Argentina.”
“There are a lot of years from this year to the next one. I don’t think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant.” They will play France or Morocco, who meet on Wednesday at 19:00 GMT, in the final, when Messi is set to make a record 26th appearance in a men’s World Cup.
In addition, he has won 11 championships in the top division, four Champions Leagues, and the Copa America with Argentina in 2021. The one glaring missing is the World Cup, as Argentina fell to Germany in the Brazilian final of 2014. “We are going to do our best, as we have done up until now so that this time it really happens we really win it,” said Messi, who retired from international duty in June 2016 before reversing his decision two months later.
Lionel’ Messi’ said: “I have been enjoying it the past few years, being with the national side. I am really enjoying everything that is happening to us.” “To get the Copa America, to reach the World Cup with 36 games unbeaten, and to finish all that trajectory in a final is just incredible.”
“I hope the people in Argentina enjoy themselves and what we are doing. They shouldn’t doubt we are giving absolutely everything.” Currently leading the Golden Boot race in Qatar alongside France’s Kylian Mbappe, Messi became the first Argentina player to score in four World Cups and also became their record World Cup scorer with 11 goals. He made his Argentina debut at the age of 18 in 2005 and has scored 97 goals in 172 games.
