| Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Protection: Reside on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Reside, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport web site and app. Day-by-day TV listings – Full protection particulars |
Argentina captain Lionel Messi says Sunday’s remaining would be the final World Cup sport of his profession.
The 35-year-old ahead scored his fifth aim of Qatar 2022 and helped arrange two others in Tuesday’s 3-0 semi-final win over Croatia.
Enjoying in his fifth World Cup, Messi has by no means gained the sport’s largest prize.
“I’m very comfortable for ending my journey in World Cups in a remaining, to play the final sport in a remaining. That’s actually very gratifying,” he mentioned.
“Every part I lived on this World Cup has been emotional, seeing how a lot it has been loved in Argentina.
“There are a whole lot of years from this 12 months to the subsequent one. I do not suppose I will do this. To complete this fashion is sensible.”
Argentina will play France or Morocco, who meet on Wednesday at 19:00 GMT, within the remaining, when Messi is ready to make a file twenty sixth look in a males’s World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup might be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Messi has gained the Ballon d’Or – awarded to the world’s finest participant – a file seven occasions and been named Fifa Finest Males’s Participant as soon as.
Different honours embrace 4 Champions Leagues, 11 top-flight titles and Copa America glory with Argentina in 2021.
The World Cup is the one obtrusive omission, Argentina having misplaced to Germany within the 2014 remaining in Brazil.
“We’re going to do our greatest, as we have now carried out up till now, in order that this time it actually occurs – we actually win it,” mentioned Messi, who retired from worldwide responsibility in June 2016 earlier than reversing his determination two months later.
“I’ve been having fun with it the previous few years, being with the nationwide facet. I’m actually having fun with every thing that’s occurring to us.
“To get the Copa America, to achieve the World Cup with 36 video games unbeaten, and to complete all that trajectory in a remaining is simply unbelievable.
“I hope the individuals in Argentina get pleasure from themselves and what we’re doing. They should not doubt we’re giving completely every thing.”
Messi, who performs for French giants Paris St-Germain, is one in all solely six males to have appeared in 5 World Cups, together with German Lothar Matthaus, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, and Antonio Carbajal, Andres Guardado and Rafael Marquez of Mexico.
At present main the Golden Boot race in Qatar alongside France’s Kylian Mbappe, Messi grew to become the primary Argentina participant to attain in 4 World Cups and likewise grew to become their file World Cup scorer with 11 objectives.
He made his Argentina debut on the age of 18 in 2005 and has scored 97 objectives in 172 video games.
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