Argentina captain Lionel Messi says Sunday’s final will be the last World Cup game of his career. The 35-year-old forward scored his fifth goal of Qatar 2022 and helped set up two others in Tuesday’s 3-0 semi-final win over Croatia.
Playing in his fifth World Cup, Messi has never won the game’s biggest prize. “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 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.” Argentina 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.
The 2026 World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
