Age Is Just A Number – 36-year-old Messi Speaks About Playing World Cup In 2026 At Age 39

Messi

Source: Ghanaija

FIFA World Cup winner, Lionel Messi says Age is just a number as he spoke about his chances of playing in the 2026 World Cup.

Messi, aged 36, is keeping the doors very well opened to playing in the next World Cup when he will be 39 years old.

The former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona star will turn 37 years old on June 24, 2024. The Rosario, Argentina born football icon will be exactly 39 years old on June 24, 2026.

But despite his advanced age, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner remains positive about playing the World Cup even though he says doing so will depend on “how I feel.”

Speaking to Pollo Alvarez in an interview, Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner failed to rule out the possibility of he playing in the World Cup.

Messi won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with Argentina in a penalty shootout against France.

And he’s keeping the doors very well opened to playing in the 2026 World Cup.

In the interview, Messi said playing the World Cup will depend on “how I feel, how I am physically and so being realistic with myself. There’s a lot of time left.”

He said “it (time) goes by quickly, but there is still some time and so I don’t know how I will be at that moment, in June 2026.”

According to the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player, “age is also a reality that is there, even though it’s just a number. I’ll have to consider every factor about that.”

He admitted the high demand of playing in the major European leagues like La Liga, Uefa Champions League as compared to Major League Soccer in the USA, saying “the matches I will play now aren’t the same as those I played when I was in Europe every three days, either in Champions League or in French/Spanish League.”

He emphasized that “But so it depends on how I feel and what I feel being alongside my teammates, and seeing if I am still up to the level or not…let’s see.”