Lionel Messi has confirmed that he will retire from international football after the final of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 on Sunday.
Messi helped Argentina qualify for the final after a commanding 3-0 win against Croatia in Tuesday’s semi-final.
The former Barcelona star opened the scoring and provided an assist for two-goal hero Julian Alvarez to earn Argentina a first World Cup final appearance since 2014.
And speaking to Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole, Messi said: “I feel very happy, to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final.
“It’s many years for the next one and I don’t think I’ll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it’s the best,” added the Argentina captain.
Argentina has not won the World Cup since Diego Maradona led La Albiceleste to glory in 1986.
Messi came close in 2014 but lost to Germany in extra time. Now, Argentina is once again in the final of the tournament after eight years.
Considered one the greatest to have graced the beautiful game, 35-year-old Messi, in recent times has often spoken about two major goals. One, winning the Fifa World Cup, and two, again winning the UEFA Champions League, two of the most coveted trophies in the sport.
Messi is playing at his fifth World Cup, surpassing the four of Diego Maradona and Javier Mascherano.
With his fifth goal in Qatar, he surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as the top Albiceleste scorer at World Cups, netting 11 times.
“It’s all well and good (the records), but the important thing is to be able to achieve the group objective, which is the most beautiful thing of all,” Messi added. “We’re just one step away, after fighting hard, and we’re going to give everything to try to make it happen this time.”
Argentina will face either France or Morocco in the World Cup final on Sunday.
