‘I will NOT be retiring’ – Lionel Messi wants to continue playing for Argentina after World Cup triumph

Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has revealed that he has no plans of retiring from international football after clinching the 2022 World Cup with Argentina. The 35-year-old led La Albiceleste to their first World Cup trophy by scoring twice against France in the final as the South American nation won an incredible game of football on penalties as the score after extra time was level at 3-3.

Messi also converted in the penalty shootout as Argentina won 4-2 after the end of extra time. It was his first World Cup win in five attempts. Messi and Argentina had reached the World Cup final in 2014 but lost out to Germany that time.

Is Lionel Messi retiring from international football?

While speaking to reporters after his historic World Cup triumph with Argentina, Messi was asked whether he would continue playing in the colors of his country as he had won the final piece of major silverware that was missing from his trophy cabinet. He responded by saying: “I will not retire. I want to continue playing as a World Cup champion.”

Messi added that he wants to feel pride in representing Argentina as champions, “It’s the most beautiful thing there is. Look what it is, it’s beautiful, I wanted it a lot. God was going to give it to me, I had a feeling that it was this, we suffered a lot, but we got it.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G10AP2P29w

Messi will soon return to club football for Paris Saint-Germain where he will link up with clubmate Kylian Mbappe, the Frenchman he beat to win the World Cup. Nonetheless, this certainly won’t be the last time that we see Messi in an Argentina jersey.

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