Game over, Messi wins. Or maybe...
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 19.12.22. | 10:49
Amid the ecstatic celebration, the Argentine ace told reporters he'd postpone his international retirement
The GOAT debate was settled last night at Lusial Stadium in Doha once and for all. Lionel Messi has finally won the World Cup title with Argentina and the award for the tournament's best player, scoring at least a goal in each knockout stage match of the Qatar 2022.
That's a fact, one will say. That's only the official story and desired narrative, the others suggest.
The goat debate is settled. Now we enter the Haaland-Nunez era…#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/CUeMy5jgAx
— Eric Njiru (@EricNjiiru) December 19, 2022
Anyhow, no one can deny the fact Lionel Messi almost singlehandedly pushed the Albiceleste to their only third WC crown ever and the first one for the South Americans after 36 years.
We all thought, "OK, so, that's it", the perfect and almost Hollywoodish way to put an end to such a spectacular career, or at least the international part of it.
However, the player himself shocked the world late last night, amid the title celebration in Doha, by saying this is not his farewell to Argentina shirt.
"I want to keep experiencing a few more matches as world champion," Messi, 35, told Argentine television following the country's epic penalty shoot-out victory over France in the World Cup final in Doha.
Crazy celebrations in Rosario - home town of Leo Messi - pic.twitter.com/6hq1hJQA8i
— Argentina Football Shirts 🇦🇷 (@ARGshirts) December 14, 2022
Meanwhile, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni would not entirely rule out Messi representing his country at another World Cup. Messi will be 38 by the time the tournament kicks off in the US, Canada and Mexico in the summer of 2026, and he will turn 39 during it.
"First of all, we need to save him a spot for the next World Cup 2026," Scaloni said. "If he wants to keep playing, he'll be with us. I think that he's more than entitled to decide whether he wants to keep playing for Argentina or not, or what he wants to do with his career.
"It's such a huge pleasure for us to coach him and his teammates. Everything that he meets with his teammates is something unparalleled, something I've never seen before. A player, a person who gives so much to his teammates."
Messi has played 172 times for Argentina, scoring 98 goals since making his debut in 2005.
