Lionel Messi announces FIFA World Cup 2022 would be his last

Lionel Messi, who is one of the legends of football, has announced his future plans post the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022. He has said that the showpiece event would be his last. However, he is yet to call a time on his career. Notably, the 35-year-old would be playing his fifth World Cup and is yet to win the pinnacle event.

The former Barcelona player made his first World Cup appearance in 2006. In 2014, his side came close but was denied a win by Germany’s substitute player in the extra time. Last year, he finally won an international tournament as his side beat Brazil in the final of the Copa America Cup. Meanwhile, with a little more than one month left at the start of the tournament, Messi has expressed his anxiety and nervousness.

“There’s some anxiety and nerves at the same time. It is the last one,” Messi said in an interview with Star Plus.

Anything can happen in a World Cup: Lionel Messi

The Paris Saint-Germain striker also opened up on his team’s chances of winning the Cup. Notably, the team is coming off an impressive 35-game winning streak. The legend said that anything can happen in a World Cup and favorites don’t always end up winning. Lionel is skeptical of making any statements but said that the team’s history suggests that they would be a candidate to win the title. Notably, the South American team won the title in 1978 and 1986.

“In a World Cup, anything can happen. All the matches are very tough. The favourites don’t always end up winning,” Messi said. “I don’t know if we’re the favourites, but Argentina is always a candidate because of its history. Now even more so because of the moment we’re in, but we are not the favourites. I think there are other teams that are above us.”

Argentina will start its campaign with a Group C game against Saudi Arabia on November 22.