Messi Leaves Fans Stunned with Surprising 2026 World Cup Comment: “At Worst, I’ll Be Watching”

Messi Leaves Future Open for 2026 World Cup: “At Worst, I’ll Be Watching”

Lionel Messi has left football fans guessing about his participation in the 2026 World Cup, even as he expressed his desire to help Argentina defend their title. Speaking in an ESPN interview, the 38-year-old Inter Miami star acknowledged the physical demands of the tournament and his age, saying he hopes to play but might simply watch the matches live.

“The truth is we’ve been talking about it,” Messi said of discussions with coach Lionel Scaloni. “I hope I can be there. I’ve said before that I’d love to be there. At worst, I’ll be there watching it live, but it will be special.”

Messi, the hero of Argentina’s 2022 Qatar triumph, reflected on the team’s strong mentality and unity under Scaloni. He praised the national squad as “full of winners” and highlighted their competitive spirit and work ethic in training.

“The World Cup is special for everyone, especially for us, because we live it in a completely different way,” Messi said. He also noted football’s unpredictability, referencing Argentina’s penalty shootout wins over the Netherlands and France in 2022.

Despite the uncertainty about his role in 2026, Messi expressed full confidence in Argentina’s squad and Scaloni’s leadership, emphasizing the team’s ability to integrate new talent and maintain a winning mentality.

Argentina will be in Pot 1 for Friday’s World Cup draw at Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center, leaving fans eagerly waiting to see whether Messi will take the field once again or witness the tournament from the stands.