When will Messi retire? Decision ‘purely and personally his’

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, August 9, 2026

Argentina Football Association president Claudio Tapia stated that Lionel Messi’s decision to retire from football is entirely up to the player, especially following his outstanding performance at the recent World Cup. This uncertainty means Messi could potentially extend his career beyond the 2026 tournament, with his future dependent on his motivation and physical condition.

The president of the Argentina Football Association, Claudio Tapia, has emphasized that the decision regarding Lionel Messi’s retirement from football remains solely with the player himself. Speaking in an interview aired on Argentine television on August 7, Tapia highlighted that Messi’s future plans should be left to his own discretion, particularly following his impressive performance at the recent World Cup.

Messi, who turned 39 on June 24, just two days after scoring twice in Argentina’s opening group stage match against Austria, has not publicly indicated when he intends to retire from international duty or how long he plans to continue playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. Tapia noted that, during the 2022 World Cup, Messi approached his participation on a match-by-match basis and suggested the same uncertainty applies to the upcoming 2026 tournament.

“At the 2022 World Cup, we didn’t know if he’d play in 2026,” Tapia said. “You have to let him relax and enjoy playing football. After that, he’ll make the decision he feels is the right one.” He also praised Messi’s performance at the recent tournament, calling it “a great World Cup” and possibly “the best.”

Messi played a key role for Argentina throughout the competition, scoring eight goals and providing four assists as the team reached the final, where they were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Spain in extra time in July’s match held in the United States. During the tournament, Messi surpassed former German striker Miroslav Klose’s World Cup scoring record, finishing with 17 goals, though French forward Kylian Mbappe overtook him by reaching 22 goals.

Tapia described Messi as “the standard-bearer” of the Argentine squad, noting his record-breaking performances match after match. He added, “If you analyse the World Cup he had, for me, he was the best player. We enjoyed every moment and have to feel proud.”

Looking ahead, Messi would be 43 years old during the 2030 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and several South American countries including Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. The tournament will mark the centennial celebration of the FIFA World Cup. Historically, the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup was Cameroonian forward Roger Milla at 42 years and 39 days. Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo also participated in the 2026 World Cup at age 41.

For now, Messi’s retirement plans remain uncertain, with the veteran forward seemingly intent on continuing his career as long as he remains motivated and physically capable.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.