Lionel Messi has once again raised doubts about his World Cup future, leaving fans wondering if football’s biggest rivalry has already seen its last chapter.
After scoring twice in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Venezuela, Messi hinted that 2026 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada might come too late for him.
At 38, the Inter Miami forward admitted he is taking things “day by day.”
“I said it at the time. I don’t think I’ll play in another World Cup. Due to my age, it’s logical that I won’t make it, but we’re there and I’m excited. I’m taking it day by day, feeling the sensations. And what’s clear is that today was the last game here,” Messi told reporters.
Lionel Messi’s final dance vs. Cristiano Ronaldo in doubt?
The prospect of seeing Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo share one last grand stage has long been a dream for fans.
Spanish journalist Tomás Guasch voiced what many were thinking, saying: “We were all very calm until Leo Messi appeared, questioning his presence at next year’s World Cup. He says it’s normal for him not to be there. But if that World Cup had any appeal, it was the final dance between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, in what would be one of the most tremendous and grandiose epics in the history of football and world sport.”
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Guasch went further, joking: “I hope he plays in the World Cup even if he’s embalmed. Because 48 teams are going to play, hundreds of players, and only Messi is missing? I think it would be a joke for football, and someone should intervene. You can’t leave us alone.”
For Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, the decision remains firmly in Messi’s hands. The veteran playmaker continues to lead his national side, but the idea of retirement looms larger with each game.
As the countdown to 2026 begins, the question lingers: will fans get one last Messi vs. Ronaldo showdown, or has the curtain already closed on football’s greatest rivalry?
Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo news and related links
