Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has said he believes Leo Messi can play at the 2026 World Cup. The 35-year-old Messi led Argentina to a historic World Cup win in Qatar last month and said repeatedly throughout the tournament that it was going to be his last World Cup.
"I think Messi can make it to the next World Cup," Scaloni told Spanish radio station Calvia FM.
"It will depend a lot on what he wants and what will happen over time and of course he will feel good. The doors will always be open for him. He is happy on the field, and for us it will be good."
The PSG player said that he will continue to play for the Albiceleste in the near future as a world champion.
"I really enjoy being in the national team and being part of this team," Messi said after the World Cup final.
"I want to continue to experience more games as the world champion."
Messi came close to winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but Argentina lost 1:0 to Germany in the final.
However, Messi made up for his disappointment by carrying his team-mates to a huge win last month.
Messi scored seven goals in seven games and became the first player to score in every round of the World Cup since the tournament was added to the round of 16 in 1986.
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Lionel Scaloni: "I think Messi can play the 2026 World Cup."
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He scored twice in the final against France, which ended in a dramatic penalty shoot-out, to lead Argentina to their third ever World Cup title.
He is also the first player to win the Ballon d'Or award twice since it was awarded in 1982 after also winning the award in 2014.
Scaloni said he doesn't believe Messi needs to win the World Cup to be considered the greatest of all time.
"I think Messi didn't have to win the World Cup to be one of the greatest or the greatest," he added.
"They always ask him for more and more and now I don't know what they will ask him for. I'm happy for him, but above all for the country, for the happiness we gave ourselves, because whoever is in Argentina these days feels euphoric that it was really worth doing everything to get it."
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