Lionel Messi Bids an Emotional Farewell to Argentine Fans
Lionel Messi has made an emotional farewell to Argentine fans after playing his last official home match with his national team, a 3-0 win against Venezuela. However, he has fueled speculation about his participation in the next World Cup, stating that he has not yet made a decision.
In a statement to the Argentine television channel "TyC Sports," Messi confessed: "I've always dreamed of reaching this level." He added: "I've had many experiences on this field, whether good or bad, but playing in Argentina in front of our fans is always a source of happiness."
Regarding his participation in the next tournament to defend his title, Messi stated: "As I said about the World Cup, I don't think I'll be participating again. Given my age, the most logical thing is that I won't be there." He continued: "Well, the World Cup is about to start, so I'm excited and motivated to participate. As I always say, I take things day by day, match by match, trying to feel happy and, more importantly, be honest with myself."
"When I feel happy, I enjoy it, but when I'm not, to be honest, I don't have a good time, so I prefer not to be there if I'm not feeling happy. So, we'll see. I haven't made a decision about the World Cup yet." Messi concluded: "I'll finish the season, then I'll have the pre-season, and there will be six months left. So, we'll see how things go. I hope to have a good preparation season in 2026, finish the championship season well, and then I'll decide what I'll do."