Eight-time Ballon d`Or winner Lionel Messi has confirmed in an interview with US broadcaster ESPN that he won’t try and win a second gold medal with Argentina on the Paris Olympics this summer time.
“I spoke with (Argentinian Olympic coach Javier) Mascherano, and we immediately agreed on the situation,” Inter Miami ahead Messi stated within the interview broadcast on Wednesday. “It`s a troublesome second, as a result of there`s the Copa America, and that will imply two or three consecutive months away from my membership.
“At my age, I don`t want to play everything and I need to make the right choices,” added the previous Barcelona star who was a member of Argentina`s 2008 Olympic gold medal successful group.
Messi, who turns 37 on June 24, will likely be with defending champions Argentina on the Copa America from June 20 to July 14 within the United States, only a few weeks earlier than the Olympics begin on July 26. Messi, nonetheless, has not closed the door on participating in a record-breaking sixth World Cup, to be held in 2026 between the US, Canada and Mexico. “It`s great to have records and continue to achieve things but I won`t take part in a World Cup just to say I`ve done six,” stated Messi.
“If I feel good and everything is in place for me to be there, fine, but I won`t go just to go”. “It`s very difficult to imagine what can happen because it`s still two years away. I don`t need to commit right now to whether or not I`ll be there.”
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The file eight-time Ballon d`Or winner is nearing the sundown of his outstanding profession. But earlier than he decides to hold up his boots for one final time, he may have a chance to carry one other Copa America title with Argentina.
As he continues to thrive on the worldwide and membership stage, Messi addressed his future and admitted that he’s not ready to go away soccer.
“I`m not prepared to leave football, I did this all my life, I enjoy the training, the games. The fear that everything`s is going to be over, it`s always there. I think Inter Miami is going to be my last club,” Messi informed ESPN Argentina as quoted from Goal.com.
His compatriot Julian Alvarez beforehand addressed the potential way forward for the talismanic ahead and the speculations about Messi being part of Argentina`s plans for the longer term.
“Let`s hope so. He`s going to decide until when, but we want him to be there, it`s better,” Alvarez informed ESPN.
Messi has earned 180 caps for Argentina and has scored 106 targets within the worldwide circuit. He is the third-highest goal-scorer within the worldwide stage with solely Ali Daei and Cristiano Ronaldo forward of him within the scoring chart.
For Inter Miami he has 13 targets and 11 assists in 18 matches within the MLS. Earlier this yr, he was topped because the Best FIFA Men`s 2023 participant after beating Erling Halaand and Kylian Mbappe to safe the highest spot for the third time in his illustrious profession.
He grew to become the primary participant to ever win the award whereas enjoying within the MLS.
All the highest three gamers, Messi, Mbappe, and Halaand didn’t attend the ceremony in London. The 36-year-old stayed in Miami for his or her first preseason recreation of the 2024 marketing campaign.
(With company inputs)
Source: www.mid-day.com
