The 2022 World Cup looks be Lionel Messi's last.
Argentina's player Lionel Messi celebrates his goal during the second half of an international friendly soccer match against Jamaica on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Harrison, N.J. The 35-year-old star said in a Star Plus interview Thursday that the Qatar tournament would “the last one.” Messi headlines an Argentina team that’s one of the favorites to lift the cup in December as it hasn’t lost in its last 34 games.
Messi is likely serious about this international retirement, however. The former Barcelona and current Paris Saint-Germain star will be 39 during that tournament and may not be playing competitive soccer any longer. This year’s World Cup is likely to be the swan song for Messi’s longtime rival for best player in the world Cristiano Ronaldo as well and stars like Luka Modric and Karim Benzema may also be playing in their final World Cup games.