Former player Juan Roman Riquelme confirmed that Lionel Messi will continue to play with the Argentina national team at the 2026 World Cup.
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Lionel Messi made a perfect return to the pitch, directly contributing to Inter Miami’s recent victory over Philadelphia. The 37-year-old superstar still showed his importance in the Herons’ shirt, and promises to continue to bring top performances in the future.
Messi’s return not only brings great expectations from Inter Miami fans, but also helps Argentina fans feel more secure, especially when the effects of age may prevent him from maintaining his best condition. La Albiceleste are the current World Cup champions, and it is unclear whether Messi can continue to accompany his teammates in defending the title in the next two years.
However, Juan Roman Riquelme, Argentine football legend and former teammate of Messi at Barcelona, has confirmed that El Pulga will attend the 2026 World Cup and shine once again.
Speaking to AZZ, Riquelme said: “Messi is reborn. You never know what he can do. And I have no doubt that if he plays in the next World Cup, he has to play. We will all cheer him on. I don’t tease him too much, but we talk a lot. That’s why I think he will play. He is very good, which is not normal. And also, he is very competitive. He has won a lot and he wants to continue winning.”
Messi is one of the few players to have won almost every trophy in his career to date. After winning the Copa America for the first time with Argentina in 2021, Messi led his teammates to the 2022 World Cup with a diverse and colorful style of play. Not stopping there, the former PSG star once again lifted the Copa America title this summer, when he and his team defeated Colombia in the final.
Messi’s importance in the national team was clearly demonstrated in the most recent match, when La Albiceleste was convincingly defeated by the defeated Colombia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Messi’s strong return will certainly be a great source of encouragement for Argentina in the upcoming matches, and possibly even in the 2026 World Cup.
