Inter Miami and World’s star Lionel Messi has revealed that he would have quit international football again if Argentina had not won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The Argentine skipper scored twice for the La Albiceleste in the World Cup final against France to force a 3-3 draw after extra time, and then converted one of the decisive spot kicks as Argentina won their third global title last year.
After that triumph, Messi came out to declare that he “was not going to retire from the Argentina National team”.
However, in his recent interview with Argentine TV network, the seven-time Ballon d’or winner revealed that he would have hung up his boots if Argentina failed to lift that trophy.
“I enjoyed very much every moment throughout the World Cup. I enjoyed it like I had never done before,”
“A bit because I knew it could be my last World Cup. And to be honest, I think if we had not been World Champions I would no longer be here in the national team. Absolutely, but now, being a World Champion I can’t leave the national team.
“I have to enjoy all this. But back then, it was like I enjoyed it and at the same time I had enormous peace of mind and confidence in the group we had.” he stated.
Had Argentina failed to win the World Cup, Messi would have retired for a second time after he briefly retired from the national team in 2016 after the 2016 Copa American final loss to Chile. He later on, after a few months decided to change his decision to come back and play for his country.
It’s left to be seen if Messi will feature at the 2026 World Cup in USA and Canada as he will be 40-years old by then.
