I won’t retire – Lionel Messi after Argentina’s World Cup triumph

Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi has confirmed he wouldn’t retire from national duties after taking his team to glory. Messi won his maiden World Cup title after La Albiceleste defeated Les Bleus by 4-2 on penalties at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday.

Messi scored a brace for Argentina after the match ended in a 3-3 draw as the pendulum swung from one side to the other. The Sky Blues took a 2-0 lead in the first half as Messi and Angel di Maria scored for the team.

However, France was able to bounce back as Kylian Mbappe scored twice in a span of 97 seconds. Messi then scored in the 109th minute in the Extra time but France once again leveled after Mbappe scored from the penalty spot.

“I won the Copa America and the World Cup in a short time,” Messi said. “I love what I do, being in the national team, and I want to continue living a few more games being world champion.

“I am going to take the Cup to Argentina to enjoy it with you,” he added.

Messi said his childhood dream of winning the World Cup is complete now after a thrilling win.

“It’s anyone’s childhood dream,” Messi said. “I was lucky to have achieved everything in this career … and this one that was missing is here.

“It’s madness … look how she [the World Cup] is, she’s gorgeous. I wanted her so much. I had a vision that this would be the one … she was getting closer.”

“We suffer, but we already have it (the World Cup). I wanted to close my career with this. I can no longer ask for anything else, thank God, he gave me everything,” he added.

On the other hand, Lionel Scaloni, who has done a terrific job for Argentina, added Messi is always welcome to play for the national team.

“First of all, we need to save him a spot for the World Cup 2026,” Scaloni said. “If he wants to keep playing, he will be with us. I think he is more than entitled to decide whether he wants to keep playing or what he wants to do with his career.

“It is such a huge pleasure for us to coach him and his teammates. Everything that he transmits to his teammates is something unparalleled, something I have never seen before — a player, a person who gives so much to his teammates.”