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Could Lionel Messi take the field for one last World Cup? According to longtime teammate Luis Suárez, the Argentinian legend is poised to take the pitch for the defending champion in 2026.
Now 37, Messi led Argentina to glory at the 2022 World Cup and was named Most Valuable Player. Arguably the greatest footballer of all-time, Messi scored seven goals in the tournament — one behind Kylian Mbappe — including two in the Final. Following a 3-3 draw, Argentina would go on to defeat Mbappe’s France side in penalties.
In an interview with El Pais, Suárez was asked whether he has had discussions with Messi about retirement. “No, we do talk [about it]. Jokingly, many times, but he [Messi] also has that desire to play in next year’s World Cup. Obviously, after being away from the national team for a while, that desire is fading more on my side than on his, but we haven’t talked about it [retirement] yet.”
With the 2026 World Cup taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Messi’s involvement is seen as a potentially huge boon for the sport in North America. An eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Messi currently plays for Inter Miami — one of the top clubs in MLS.
Argentina has already secured its spot in next year’s World Cup, but Messi hasn’t stated his intentions as of yet. Before Argentina won the 2022 World Cup, Messi hinted that it would likely be his last time participating in the event. When pressed about his teammate’s thoughts on playing in 2026, Suarez couldn’t provide any clues about Messi’s plan.
“No, no, no, I don’t ask him either … I know what he is like and I don’t ask him anything regarding that. Time will tell,” Suárez said.
An iconic player in his own right, Suárez is also nearing the end of his career. The Uruguayan star joined Inter Miami in 2024 following a stellar career in Europe. Between 2007-2020, Suarez was one of the top strikers in the world while playing for Barcelona, Liverpool and Ajax.
“Time will tell how long I’ll be able to do it [for], but I still have that flame of wanting to play, of wanting to compete…As long as that flame is lit I will want to continue competing until I can take it no longer. I don’t have a deadline of this [year] or the next. But as long as I’m still keen, still up to it and showing it, I’m going to continue enjoying it.”
In addition to approaching 600 goals, Suarez is on the cusp of becoming a top-10 scorer of all-time. With 40 more goals, Suárez would surpass Irishman Joe Bambrick for the No. 10 spot.
“Despite being 38 years old, I set my mind on reaching a figure which, for a Uruguayan footballer, would be something unique, something incredible, like finishing in the top 10 of the all-time leading goalscorers in football history,” he said. “I try to enjoy it, I feel this desire to keep adding these aims to achieve them.”
Both Messi and Suárez are out of contract at the end of the year, but there is a sense that both players will remain with the club. With Inter Miami opening a new stadium next season, the club would love to keep its two biggest stars in the mix.
“If I feel capable and they [Inter Miami] see that I am capable of helping, they are willing [to renew],” he said. “But it [the season] has just started, we have been going for a couple of months, we are going to see how both the club and I finish the year, and then we will see what happens. I’m happy about the club’s current situation, that for the first time in its history it has reached the semifinals of the [Concacaf Champions Cup]. I’m really excited and enjoying the growth of the team,” Suárez said.
