Lionel Messi intends to play his last World Cup game on Sunday (Picture: Getty Images)
Lionel Messi says Sunday’s final in Qatar will be his last World Cup match, but his Argentina teammates hope he reconsiders.
The 35-year-old has been in superb form this tournament, scoring five goals and providing three assists so far as Argentina have booked their place in the final alongside France.
The PSG superstar has already declared that, win or lose, the game with France will be his last in a World Cup, obviously hoping to go out on a high.
‘[I am] Very happy to be able to achieve this. Ending my World Cup journey by playing my last match in a final,’ he said. ‘Everything I experienced in this World Cup is something very exciting, what people experienced, how people in Argentina are enjoying it.’
Another star of their campaign so far, Emiliano Martinez, thinks Messi could have many more years at the highest level if he wanted them, saying he could play till he’s 50.
‘For me he can play until he is 50. He looks really sharp and he looks so good,’ the Aston Villa goalkeeper told FootballersLives.tv.
‘He makes things look easy – it’s the hardest thing to do. To understand how well he hits the ball is something.
‘He puts the ball there and looks at you and hits the ball top corner, if he misses he hits the post, or crossbar. That left foot. He is small, but so strong.’
Emiliano Martinez and Lionel Messi celebrated together after beating Netherlands on penalties in the quarter-finals in Qatar (Picture: Getty Images)
Tottenham centre-back Cristian Romero has also called on Messi to reconsider his future, hoping he will be back in 2026.
‘I hope this is not his last World Cup,’ said Romero. ‘This issue always comes up and we say we are going to ask him not to step down.
‘It makes us very happy to have him as a partner and to have him play with us.’
MORE : Legend Lionel Messi leaves Cristiano Ronaldo in his wake with Qatar World Cup magic
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‘We are going to ask him not to step down.’
