Lionel Messi has addressed growing speculation about his potential participation in the 2026 World Cup, refusing to rule out the possibility of leading Argentina's title defence. The 37-year-old football icon finally captured the prestigious trophy in Qatar 2022,

Next summer’s World Cup is on Lionel Messi’s mind but he is yet to make a final decision over whether he will play in it or not. Messi will turn 38 during the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico and had previously said in Qatar in 2022 that that competition — where he led Argentina to victory — would be “his last”.