Will Lionel Messi Actually Play in the 2026 World Cup?
Every legendary football player eventually has to say goodbye, and fans are beginning to wonder if that moment is inching closer for Lionel Messi. Instead of debating his goals or free kicks, the pressing question is whether the greatest player of his generation will lead his country onto the World Cup stage one last time in 2026.
His recent appearances, emotional post-match remarks, and the voices of teammates and friends have only fueled the speculation.
Final Farewell?
A 38-year-old Lionel Messi walked off the Estadio Monumental pitch after scoring twice in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Venezuela in September 2025. His three sons surrounded him as he was cheered by 80,000 fans, visibly emotional as he admitted it might have been his last competitive match on home soil.
Messi hasn’t actually provided a straight answer. “Being able to finish in this way here is what I always dreamed of,” he said before quickly adding that he still hadn’t decided about 2026. He made it clear he’d wait until after this MLS season, see how his body feels in preseason, and then decide with six months to go.
A Career Defined By Comebacks
This isn’t the first time Messi has flirted with retirement. He famously quit the national team in 2016 after missing a penalty in the Copa América final against Chile, saying he had done all he could for Argentina. Two months later, he reversed course by admitting that his love for the shirt was too strong.
After reversing his 2016 retirement, Messi went on to achieve the crowning moment of his career: winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he scored seven goals. He also guided Argentina to Copa América titles in both 2021 and 2024.
Now, nearly two decades after his debut, Messi is again weighing how long he can stretch his international career. He turns 39 during the 2026 tournament, and while age is one factor, Messi has stressed that honesty with himself matters more. “When I feel good, I enjoy it. When I don’t, honestly, I suffer, and I’d rather not be there,” he told reporters in September.
Friends, Teammates, And The Pressure To Play
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Bryan Berlin
If Messi is leaning toward a farewell, his friends and teammates are pushing him the other way. Luis Suárez, now his Inter Miami teammate, told El País in April that Messi still wants to play at the 2026 World Cup.
Ángel Di María, who retired from Argentina duty after the 2024 Copa América, was even more emphatic, insisting Messi must play “no matter what.” To Di María, Messi belongs in the World Cup squad regardless of his shape or age.
It’s the same throughout Argentina’s camp. Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul has said the team is always at its best when Messi is involved, while striker Julián Álvarez noted that with Messi, they might have scored more goals in the qualifiers. The players clearly want him in North America next summer.
Even manager Lionel Scaloni has played his part carefully. He has given Messi rest during certain qualifiers while allowing younger talents like Thiago Almada and 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono to step into key roles. At the same time, Scaloni avoids pressuring Messi publicly, repeating that the decision is entirely his. “We must go one game at a time,” Scaloni said earlier this year. “Let’s not drive him crazy with this.”
The reality is that Argentina has already qualified and looks strong enough to compete without its captain, but losing Messi would still be a major blow. His leadership and connection with fans carry weight beyond tactics. Scaloni knows this, and it’s why he continues to keep the door wide open.
Signs Of The End
Messi himself has admitted he’s aware that his career is nearing its conclusion. On the club side, his decision is tangled with his future at Inter Miami. His contract runs through the end of 2025, and co-owner Jorge Mas has said his dream is for Messi to inaugurate the team’s new stadium in March 2026. Miami is pushing for him to sign an extension. This year, he’s earning $20.4 million in guaranteed salary, the highest in Major League Soccer, but so far, he hasn’t agreed to stay beyond 2025.
Reports in Argentina suggest Barcelona could try to bring him back after the World Cup, once his Miami contract expires. The possibility of a final spell at Camp Nou will be a romantic twist, but for now, the focus is on whether he stays fit enough to lead Argentina one last time.
During the Club World Cup in June, where Inter Miami were routed 4-0 by PSG, Messi told DSports that fans are “watching my final moments in football’s elite.” He continues to give the impression of a man preparing for the end, even if he refuses to circle a date.
On one hand, he remains productive. Messi leads MLS in goals this season by scoring 19 in 19 appearances. On the other hand, injuries have limited him at times, and he has had to manage his workload more carefully. Both realities feed into the uncertainty of 2026.
What’s At Stake
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Ank Kumar
The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico would be a fitting stage for Messi’s farewell. With his home and club career now based in Miami, the tournament would unfold practically in his backyard. Argentina enters as defending champion, and the chance to chase a second straight title is tempting. It would mirror how Pelé and Maradona defined their eras through World Cups, and for Messi, another run could strengthen his case as the greatest of all time.
At the same time, the risk is clear. If his body does not hold up, forcing him to the sidelines during the tournament could tarnish what has been an almost perfect closing chapter since 2021.
So, will Lionel Messi actually play in the 2026 World Cup? Right now, the only honest answer is that he hasn’t decided. He has left breadcrumbs pointing both ways, but the world continues to believe he will be in North America next summer, wearing Argentina’s number 10 for the last time.