Lionel Messi has announced that he does not plan to retire anytime soon, emphasizing that he has “more years to play,” Soccernet.football reports.
Widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, Messi has solidified his legacy in recent years with a FIFA World Cup victory and two Copa America titles with Argentina.
At 37, after winning every major football accolade and moving to Inter Miami in MLS, many expect the legendary forward to retire in the near future.
Concerns over his potential retirement were fueled last week following his impressive hat-trick in a 6-0 victory over Bolivia.
After the match, Messi acknowledged that the recent October internationals might be among his “last” for Argentina.
However, the 2022 World Cup winner has since clarified his remarks at an award ceremony on Thursday.
He stated that although he is not aiming to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he does plan to continue playing for a few more years.
“Coming to Inter Miami does not mean I will retire anytime soon, I still have more years to play,” Messi told the Spanish publication Marca.
“In the moment, we will see. I don’t like to accelerate time or look ahead. I try to enjoy every day. I hope I can keep playing at this level to feel good and be happy.
“When I get to do what I love I am happy. I value that more than reaching the 2026 [World Cup] tournament. I haven’t set a goal to reach the World Cup, but more so to live day-to-day and be well.”