Messi not ready for international retirement just yet

World Cup winner Lionel Messi is not ready to call time on his glittering international career just yet.

The 35-year-old led from the front with two goals in a thrilling 3-3 extra-time draw with France in Qatar on Sunday and then scored in the penalty shoot-out as Argentina lifted the trophy for the third time, but the first for him.

Messi had indicated during the build-up to the final that the game would be his last on the world stage, but speaking afterwards he told Argentinian TV station TyC Sports: "Obviously I wanted to cap my career with this and I can't ask for anything more.

"What will happen after this? I've managed to win the Copa America and the World Cup almost at the end...

"I love football, it's what I do. I enjoy being in the national team and want to continue by experiencing a few more games as a world champion."

Whether or not "a few more games" will constitute a title defence in four years' time remains to be seen, but head coach Lionel Scaloni is hoping so.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Scaloni said: "First of all, we need to save him a spot for the next World Cup in 2026. If he wants to keep playing, he'll be with us."

Scaloni saw his side pegged back twice, firstly as a result of Kylian Mbappe's quick-fire double after Messi's penalty and Angel Di Maria's strike had put them in control, and then courtesy of Mbappe's third - just the second hat-trick in the final - following another Messi goal, before they eventually prevailed 4-2 on penalties.

He said: "The match was completely insane. It wasn't in my plans. I didn't envisage to be World Cup winners, but now we are and the most important thing is how we achieved this."

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