Will Lionel Messi play in the 2026 World Cup? This is the latest update

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Lionel Messi has yet to decide what he will play in the 2026 World Cup.

Messi, the 38-year-old Argentine World Cup champion, has confirmed that his health is at the forefront of his decision to play in the next tournament co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico next summer.

“The most logical thing is, thanks to my age, I don’t make it. But we’re mostly there, so I want to play it,” Messi said after scoring twice in Venezuela and Argentina in the final World Cup qualifiers in his home country on September 4th.

“As I always say, I play games every day, I play games every game. It’s something that I take every day and I feel the feeling. Every day, I try to feel better and be honest with myself, above all else,” Messi added.

“When I feel good, I enjoy it, but honestly, I don’t have a good time, so if I’m not feeling well, I prefer not to be there.

Messi added: “Each game, we finish the season and we have a preseason, with six months left.

Messi’s final comment is expected to sign an extension of its contract with Inter Miami, which USA Today Sports reported on previously ongoing negotiations.

Messi previously said that his last 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which led Argentina to victory.

If Messi and longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) played in the 2026 World Cup, they will be the first players to play in six different World Cups.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Messi led Intermiami to the 2023 League Cup title shortly after arriving in Major League Soccer and the US in July 2023

Messi fueled InterMiami in the best regular season in MLS history while earning MVP in 2024. However, InterMiami was eliminated in the first round by Atlanta United in the playoffs of the 2024 MLS Cup.

Intermiami already lacks three trophies in 2025, losing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals, the 16th round of the FIFA Club World Cup and most recently in the 2025 League Cup final.

Intermiami has a chance to win the MLS Supporters Shield this season, but pursuing an MLS Cup title is the goal of Messi and the South Florida Club.

Still, injuries were a major factor in Messi’s Miami Inter Miami tenure, dealing with frequent upper limb injuries and ankle injuries that sidelined him for two months in the 2024 Copa America final.

Messi returns to Intermiami and will not play against Argentina in the remaining World Cup qualifying matches in Ecuador on September 9th.

Messi could potentially take part in four more Argentine-friendly matches later this year.

Argentina plans to play two friendly matches in the US between October 6th and 14th. These friendly matches will coincide with Intermiami’s MLS season and could create Messi’s schedule conflict.

Argentina will also play two friendly matches on November 10-18 in Luanda, Angola and Kerala, India, to determine their opponents. These friendly matches are under the international windows of FIFA.

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