Argentina captain Lionel Messi has dismissed speculation that he could extend his international career to a record seventh FIFA World Cup in 2030, calling the idea “impossible” despite continued dominance on football’s biggest stage.
The 38-year-old forward had only recently made history by becoming the first player to feature in six World Cups, before being joined in that elite group by Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi’s latest milestone came spectacularly as he inspired Argentina’s World Cup title defence with a stunning hat-trick against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on Tuesday.
The Argentine icon also equalled Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals, further cementing his place in tournament history. In the process, he became the oldest player ever to score a World Cup hat-trick.
Following his record-breaking performance, questions naturally turned to whether fans could witness him at the 2030 edition, which would require Messi to play at the age of 42.
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However, the World Cup winner quickly shut down any such possibility when asked by Argentine outlet TyC Sports in the mixed zone.
“No, no, that’s impossible,” Lionel Messi said, laughing off the suggestion.
He also reflected on Argentina’s performance and the increasing competitiveness of international football, insisting that every match at this level is becoming more demanding.
“As I’ve been saying here. The truth is, we’re in good shape to compete. This team has always shown that it competes hard and never lets up,” Messi said.
“No matter the opponent, it always tries to take the lead. The first half wasn’t easy; it’s getting harder and harder to compete. We’ve been seeing in the World Cup that all the matches are very evenly matched, and no one gives you anything for free.”
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