Messi says 2022 World Cup will ‘surely’ be his last

Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain looks on during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between SL Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal on October 5, 2022. (Photo by Pedro Fi˙za/NurPhoto) (Photo by Pedro Fiuza / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP)

Argentina captain Lionel Messi said Thursday that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will “surely” be the last of his career.

“It’s my last World Cup, surely. I feel good physically, I was able to do a very good pre-season this year, which I couldn’t do last year. It was essential to get to where I am, with a good state of mind and a lot of hope,” the 35-year-old told ESPN Argentina.

Messi, who is due to appear in his fifth World Cup, made his international debut in 2005 and has since won 164 caps for Argentina and is the country’s all-time record scorer with 90 goals.

In the interview, which took place in Paris where Messi plays for Paris Saint-Germain, he admitted he was nervous about the impending tournament in Qatar.

“There is anxiety, nerves about the World Cup,” he said. “We can’t wait for it to start.”

Messi’s international debut as a substitute against Hungary in 2005 lasted just two minutes before he was sent off but he quickly established himself in the national team set-up and travelled to Germany for his first World Cup in 2006.

He went on to play in the 2010 edition in South Africa, in 2014 in Brazil, where Argentina reached the final, and in 2018 in Russia.

The current side, under the management of Lionel Scaloni has now gone 35 games without defeat and is likely to figure as one of the pre-tournament favourites for the Qatar tournament.

“We have reached a good moment, with a very well-equipped and very strong group, but anything can