7 time Ballon D’or winner Lionel Messi has stated that he would love to continue playing international football in an Argentina shirt as a World Cup winner after leading the South American champions to the FIFA World Cup title on Sunday.

Earlier in the week, the Paris Saint-Germain forward had stated that Sunday’s final would be his last international game, but Messi continued his spectacular run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar by scoring two goals in the 3-3 draw while also going home with the tournament’s MVP gong.

While the forward did not state for how long he will keep playing, he did confirm that Sunday’s final is not his last game for the Argentina national team.

“No, I’m not gonna retire from the national team. I want to keep playing as World Cup champions with Argentina shirt,” Messi said.

Although Messi will be 39 when the next FIFA World Cup is played in 2026, the revelation he made after lifting the trophy on Sunday and speaking to a journalist means that he could still feature at the next World Cup and the next Copa America.

Argentina started the World Cup final on fire, with Angel di Maria pushed into the box as Lionel Messi stepped up to score.

Angel di Maria then scored the next goal to give Argentina a two-goal lead into halftime. However, after a poor first-half performance from France, the 2018 champion finally got off the mark in the 80th minute as Kylian Mbappe scored from the penalty spot.

Less than two minutes later, he scored 2-2 as France forced extra time. Messi then put the ball over the line in extra time as Argentina thought they were finally clear from the French team.

 Mbappe then scored a FIFA World Cup final hat-trick and his 12th World Cup goal in two editions to force a 3-3 draw and a penalty shootout which Argentina won 4-2.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu