‘I’m sure it will be soon’ – Lionel Messi admits Argentina retirement is close but ready for 'new challenge' in Miami
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Updated 12/07/2023 at 13:11 GMT
Lionel Messi gave an interview with TV Publica, where he was asked questions by his Argentina team-mates. The 36-year-old admits he is entering the swansong years of his career, and will walk away from international football in the not-too-distant future. However, Messi was adamant he has no intention to slow down his career as he takes on a new challenge at MLS side, Inter Miami.
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Lionel Messi admits his retirement from international football is edging over closer after leading Argentina to World Cup glory last year.
Messi achieved the crowning moment of his career in Qatar, as one of the sport’s all-time greats finally won football’s greatest prize.
The Inter Miami star admits that his days wearing those famous blue-and-white stripes are numbered.
“Honestly, I don’t know until when. I think it will happen when it has to happen," said Messi in an interview with TV Publica.
“After having achieved everything recently, the only thing left to do is to enjoy. God will say when that moment will come.
“Logically, because of my age, I’m sure it will be soon. But I don’t know exactly when will be the right time. I think about the day-to-day, enjoying everything beautiful.
“We had to go through very hard times in the national team. We were fortunate enough to be World Cup and Copa America champions. It’s time to enjoy."
The 36-year-old was being quizzed by his Argentina team-mates, with Roma’s Paulo Dybala asking if Messi had ever considered the magnitude of his achievements.
"When you are always competing, when you always have goals ahead of you, you don’t value much what you really deserve, what you are achieving," he added.
"I am at a moment in my career where I enjoy everything that happens to me and I value everything much more because I know that these are the last years. But I think that when I retire and I’m not playing anymore, I will value all of this much more.
“And even more so the fact of being a World champion, which will last a lifetime, especially in a country like ours, that is so fond of football, so grateful for it.”
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Lionel Messi with the World Cup.
Image credit: Getty Images
Attention turned to Messi’s club career after rejecting Saudi advances to seal a move to Inter Miami in the MLS.
He insists that this transfer does not signal an intention to slow down his career, and is relishing the prospect of playing across the Atlantic.
"My mentality and my head will not change and I will try, wherever I am, to give the maximum for me and for the club, in order to continue to perform at the highest level,” he explained.
“We are satisfied with the decision we have made. Prepared and impatient to face this new challenge, this new change."
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