Lionel Messi has been the topic of hypothesis for the previous three years concerning his potential involvement within the FIFA World Cup 2026. Whereas he has been a part of the Argentina nationwide staff all through the pre-tournament course of, he has but to substantiate whether or not he’ll play in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
“Clearly, I’m excited. The World Cup is the most important competitors there’s. So I’m excited, however taking it day-to-day,” Messi stated throughout a latest interview with Sport. “A World Cup means so much, particularly after having gained it.”
Nonetheless, the Inter Miami ahead was cautious about his possibilities of making the Argentina squad, providing an trustworthy confession. “I don’t wish to be a burden,” Leo admitted. “I wish to really feel bodily properly, to make certain I can assist and contribute to the group, to the squad.”
This assertion, although candid, aligns with what Messi has stated over the previous few months. Because the World Cup approaches, it has turn out to be an unavoidable matter in each interview, and his stance has not modified. Understanding that he’ll flip 39 through the match, the ahead nonetheless has doubts about whether or not his physique will have the ability to compete on the highest degree of depth.
Lionel Messi of Argentina holds the FIFA World Cup trophy.
“Our season is completely different from Europe’s,” Lionel defined concerning Main League Soccer. “We can have a preseason in between, only some matches earlier than the World Cup, and I’ll see day-to-day if I actually really feel bodily able to be on the degree I would love and have the ability to take part.”
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The subsequent World Cup will probably be extra demanding than earlier editions
The World Cup shouldn’t be solely probably the most prestigious match in world sports activities, but additionally an elite competitors that calls for excessive bodily and psychological effort. The perfect gamers from every nation enter the match figuring out they must wait 4 years for an additional probability to play it. This makes each match imply excess of only a recreation.
These circumstances will turn out to be much more difficult in 2026, because of the format change that can develop the variety of groups to 48, as a substitute of the 32 that participated in Qatar 2022. Any longer, the trail to the title will embody eight matches in 39 days, which is a big bodily demand.
Messi’s latest accidents
The brand new World Cup format will current a serious problem for Lionel Messi, in addition to another participant approaching 40 years outdated. Within the case of the Inter Miami ahead, his latest harm historical past raises questions on how his physique will reply underneath such demanding circumstances, making his cautious strategy comprehensible.
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Up to now in 2025, Messi has suffered three muscular accidents that stored him off the sphere for a complete of 30 days, in keeping with Transfermarkt. The primary occurred in March, when an adductor situation prevented him from taking part in within the World Cup qualifiers towards Uruguay and Brazil.
In August, Lionel confronted two consecutive muscular issues that sidelined him from a number of Inter Miami matches. He was first out for 11 days, returned briefly, and after just one match needed to relaxation one other 9 days to completely get well. An analogous scenario through the World Cup would doubtless imply he would miss the rest of the match.
