It has been confirmed by Lionel Messi that he will participate in his last World Cup game when Argentina face either France or Morocco in the championship game on Sunday in Qatar.
Messi led Argentina to a 3-0 victory against Croatia in their World Cup semifinal match on Tuesday. He will earn his 172nd cap this weekend when he competes for Argentina in the World Cup final, where he will attempt to win the tournament for the first time since 1986.
Messi was quoted as saying to the Argentine media site Diario Deportivo Ole, “I feel extremely satisfied, to be able to do this, to end my World Cup trip by playing my last game in a final,” after the tournament.
There are still several years before the next one, and I really doubt that I will be able to participate in it. And to end like this, it’s the finest,” the captain of Argentina’s football team remarked.
The 35-year-old player has already competed in more World Cups than Diego Maradona and Javier Mascherano, who both participated in four tournaments.
He also overtook Gabriel Batistuta as the best scorer for the Albiceleste in World Cups with 11 goals after scoring his fifth goal in Qatar. His previous high was 10.
“It’s all well and good (the records), but the essential thing is to be able to reach the collective aim, which is the most beautiful thing of all,” Messi continued.
After the squad’s triumph on Tuesday, hundreds of supporters took to the streets in Argentina to celebrate the country’s national team making its sixth appearance in the World Cup final.
In the other semi-final that will take place on Wednesday, France will play Morocco.
