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Messi's future with the national team: in Argentina they expect him to stay until 2028
Jul 21 2026 10:52 · By JUAN CASTRO · 86 Reads
The Argentine captain has not confirmed anything, neither one way nor the other
It is still difficult to know with complete certainty what the future holds for the Argentine captain in the Albiceleste national team after the runner-up finish achieved on Sunday in a World Cup in which he performed very well at 39 years of age (eight goals).
For the moment, nothing is confirmed, because the star has not said so, regarding whether Leo will continue playing for the Argentina national team or not in the coming months-years. From what MARCA has been able to learn, and as is expected in Argentina, the idea is to continue wearing the albiceleste in the near future, although, we insist, nothing is confirmed one way or the other. The next major challenge would be the 2028 Copa América.
His 39 years of age could suggest a retirement from the National Team after this World Cup, but the fact of having finished as runner-up and with this bad taste in his mouth may perhaps change something in his mind, or perhaps not... because he already had the idea of continuing with the National Team. The coming days-months will be decisive, whether for one outcome or the other.
Leo always says one thing that makes sense: at his age, he goes year by year, depending on his physical condition. For now, and he has shown it in this World Cup, he is doing well, but we won’t know in a year. Maybe he won’t either.
The next major title at stake for Argentina is the 2028 Copa América (probably in the United States). There are two years left, exactly the length of Messi's contract with Inter Miami. But before that, in September-October and November, Argentina, still with Lionel Scaloni in charge, will have six friendly matches before the Albiceleste fully dive into the 2030 World Cup qualifiers, a tournament, incidentally, for which they have already qualified.
They will be different qualifiers, since Argentina has already qualified (together with Paraguay and Uruguay they will be symbolic co-hosts of the 2030 World Cup), so the Albiceleste will not have to fight for points. Perhaps Conmebol will come up with a title (in the style of the Nations League) to give the three aforementioned countries some incentive. We will see whether with Leo or without Leo.