Messi drops bombshell on 2026 World Cup return — here’s what he said!

Lionel Messi has opened the door to a possible sixth World Cup appearance, saying he hopes to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, though admitting age and fitness will dictate his final decision.

In an exclusive interview with NBC News, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner revealed he will reassess his physical condition next year while training with Inter Miami, where he recently extended his contract through 2028.

“It’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup, and I would love to,” Messi said. “I’ll see if I can really be 100 per cent, if I can be useful, and then make a decision.”

The 38-year-old Argentine captain, who led his nation to glory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2021 Copa América, said the chance to defend Argentina’s title remains a powerful motivation.

“We’re coming off winning the last one, and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular,” he added. “It’s always a dream to play with the national team.”

Messi, who has scored a record 114 goals in 195 appearances for Argentina, first debuted for Barcelona in 2004 and has since played for Paris Saint-Germain and now Inter Miami, helping boost global attention toward Major League Soccer (MLS).

If he does return in 2026, Messi would make history with his sixth World Cup appearance, extending his already legendary two-decade career on football’s biggest stage — a feat no male player has ever achieved.