Soccer Legend Reveals Lionel Messi's Decision on Playing In 2026 FIFA World Cup
Soccer Legend Reveals Lionel Messi's Decision on Playing In 2026 FIFA World Cup originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami drew 0-0 against Al Ahly in the FIFA Club World Cup opening game last night. The Argentine star was close on a few occasions to scoring the tournament's first goal.
Advertisement
Nearly 38, Messi's time in soccer is nearly over, and despite playing multiple games in the span of a few weeks, many wonder if the star could potentially plan on retiring soon.
As much as many are confident that Messi will want to play in the upcoming FIFA World Cup with the Argentina national team, no one can guarantee that he will be fully fit enough to play in it, nor that he will decide to hang up the boots before next summer.
With his future at Inter Miami still not confirmed for next year, the question still looms about the player's future ahead of next summer.
After the game between Inter Miami and Al Ahly last night, soccer legend Christian Vieri spoke wth DAZN about a conversation he had with Messi before the match.
Advertisement
The Italian legend mentioned that he came to Miami to watch Messi play and told the Argentine star that he wished to see him next year wearing the Argentina jersey during the FIFA World Cup.
Messi's response gives the idea that his future is already defined in his eyes.
Lionel Messi on the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Vieri spoke with Messi about the World Cup next year and revealed the conversation he had with the Inter Miami star just before the match against Al Ahly.
The response Messi gave the Italian excited him and the soccer fans around the world.
Christian Vieri: "Before the match started, I told Messi that next year I'll come to watch you at the World Cup with Argentina. He said to me, 'Alright, come, I want to see you at the matches.' I told him: I'll come with my whole family, I want to come for a month and follow you."
After revealing the conversation he had with Messi, Veiri insisted on believing that the Inter Miami star will be playing in the World Cup next year, despite soon turning 38 and then turning 39 next year.
Christian Vieri: "Of course, he will play in the World Cup, he is still the best in the world, and the Argentine national team knows how to play alongside him. It's completely different when he plays with Argentina; he's on another level."
What's Next for Messi and Inter Miami?
After Inter Miami's 0-0 draw against Al Ahly, Messi and co. will play FC Porto next on Thursday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Inter Miami will return to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on June 23 when they take on Palmeiras as their last group stage match of Group A.
With one point secured after their first match played, Messi and the MLS side will look to get three points to get closer to the knockout stages. FC Porto and Palmeiras play today at the MetLife Stadium.
Related: FIFA Club World Cup Set to Implement Three Unique 'Americanized' Rules
Related: Lionel Messi's Perfect Tournament Record at Risk Ahead of FIFA Club World Cup
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
22 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Rams coach Sean McVay ‘open-minded' to reunion with Dolphins corner Jalen Ramsey
Just go ahead and get the deal done already. Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay called the team 'open-minded' when it comes to bringing back Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey, only further fanning the flames of a reunion. 'Usually, those are scenarios and situations that you have to have plans in place prior to executing some of the decisions that have occurred,' McVay said Tuesday. 'Definitely don't want to rule anything out because we're always open-minded to onboarding and acquiring quality players and people like him if we're able to do that, but there would be some obstacles that are real that are in the place of maybe preventing that from occurring.' Speculation about Ramsey's return to Los Angeles have swirled since he and the Miami Dolphins mutually agreed to deal the seven-time Pro Bowler in mid-April. Even Rams general manager Les Snead confirmed that he and the Dolphins front office had a conversation about Ramsey. 'I've had discussions with Miami,' Snead said April 22, later adding that 'there are a lot of nuances to that situation based on all the things that come with a trade, contracts and things like that. I'm not sure where they're at in the process.' The All-Pro corner, for one, has not been shy about his love for Los Angeles. Ramsey, of course, spent 2019 to 2022 with the Rams, even helping to bring Los Angeles a Super Bowl during the 2021 season before the team dealt him to Miami in 2023. 'L.A. is like a second home for me,' Ramsey said prior to his 2024 return to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, later adding that 'the community always treated me and my family with nothing but love and respect.' A potential reconciliation between the Dolphins and Ramsey was always a long shot yet effectively fell apart when the nine-year veteran skipped last week's mandatory minicamp. 'He is not here,' Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said June 10, calling Ramsey's absence 'excused.' 'We are focused on building the Dolphins today, and anything outside of that, any sort of distractions I'm not focused on.' The biggest obstacle to the blockbuster deal, however, is Ramsey's price tag as he will make approximately $25.1 million in 2025. Los Angeles, however, waived fellow corner Derion Kendrick on Friday, a move that saved them about $3.4 million. The Rams did re-sign Kendrick Tuesday yet the extra cap space would certainly be necessary if a deal for Ramsey manifested. 'We've had conversations through the weekend with some teams about it as well,' Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said in late April following the 2025 NFL Draft, 'so depending on what happens and if and when it'll happen — whatever it is — we'll make the deal at the appropriate time.' Despite the Dolphins' willingness to move on from Ramsey, the 30-year-old still remains one of the best corners in football. During his 27 game stint in Miami, Ramsey had five picks, 16 pass deflections and 82 combined tackles. Quarterbacks only completed roughly 59-percent of their passes with a rating of about 71.8 when throwing in his direction over the last two years. The Rams, meanwhile, could desperately use an injection of talent in their secondary as the team finished the 2024 season ranked 20th against the pass.
Associated Press
39 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Richards' 2nd-half goal lifts US over Saudi Arabia 1-0 and into CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Defender Chris Richards scored with a flick of the ball off a second-half free kick to lift the United States to a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Thursday night, sending the Americans on to the CONCACAF Gold Cuo quarterfinals. Richards tracked the ball as it flew into the box on a curving free kick from Sebastian Berhalter in the 62nd minute to tap the ball with his left foot past Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aquidi. The win and the 1-1 draw between Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti in Group D's other match Thursday in Houston, clinched a knockout berth for the Americans, who improved to 42 wins, one loss and five draws in group play. The U.S. has won its group in 16 of 17 Gold Cups, and closes Group D play on Sunday against Haiti at Arlington, Texas. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino stuck with the same lineup that produced a 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, the first time he made no changes in consecutive matches since taking over the program last October. But playing against No. 58 Saudi Arabia, the 16th-ranked Americans showed little of the attack firepower they displayed against the No. 100 Soca Warriors. The match saw few real chances on goal by either team. The Americans had just one shot in the first half. Richards' speed to track back to cover for Alex Freeman's mistake and block a shot kept Saudi Arabia from a 1-0 lead. Matt Freese got his second consecutive start in goal for the U.S. and third in four matches as he appears to have displaced Matt Turner. The Gold Cup represents the last competitive test for the Americans ahead of the 2026 World Cup. As co-host with Mexico and Canada, the U.S. is an automatic qualifier for the World Cup. The Americans limped into the Gold Cup on a four-match losing streak that included a 4-0 rout by Switzerland in their final tune-up. And with many of the top players either sitting out this tournament for personal reasons, injuries or playing in the Club World Cup, Pochettino selected a roster full of relatively untested and unproven players. Missing the tournament for the U.S. are regulars Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun and Sergiño Dest, ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
PSG stunned by Botafogo in Club World Cup upset
Botafogo players celebrate after beating Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup on Thursday (Frederic J. Brown) Paris Saint-Germain suffered a shock 1-0 Club World Cup defeat against Brazilian side Botafogo on Thursday in a hardfought battle between the reigning champions of Europe and South America. A first-half goal from Brazilian international Igor Jesus proved the difference as Botafogo all but sealed a place in the knockout rounds at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. Advertisement French champions PSG are widely regarded as one of the favourites for FIFA's 32-team tournament after a dazzling season which culminated with a scintillating 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final last month. But their hopes of securing a victory which would have seen them become the first side to reach the last 16 were stymied by a resilient performance from their opponents from Rio de Janeiro. Paris Saint-Germain picked up where they had left off in Sunday's 4-0 Group B rout of Atletico Madrid, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia testing Botafogo goalkeeper John with an early curling effort after just two minutes. But that early effort was as close as PSG came to scoring in a scrappy first half punctuated by a series of niggling fouls that prevented the European champions from settling into their passing game. Advertisement Botafogo's midfield trio of Marlon Freitas, Gregore and Allan worked tirelessly to close down Vitinha, denying the skilful PSG playmaker time and space to launch attacks despite dominating possession. Instead it was Botafogo who took the lead with a goal against the run of play on 36 minutes. Jefferson Savarino's perfectly weighted through ball split the PSG defence and sent Jesus racing through on goal. The Botafogo striker did brilliantly to wrongfoot the covering Willian Pacho before sweeping a shot that took a slight deflection past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on its way into the net. Advertisement PSG continued to dominate possession through the second half, and spent long periods camped in the final third. But Botafogo's defence held firm and the result leaves the Brazilians firmly on course for the last 16, with a final group game against Atletico Madrid to come in Pasadena on Monday. rcw/as
