Is This the End? Messi Stays Silent on Argentina Future After World Cup Final Loss

Lionel Messi has not said whether Sunday's World Cup final was his last game for Argentina. At 39, he's stuck to his usual line about taking things one step at a time, and gave no clear answer either way after the 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain.

Reports out of the Argentina camp suggest this isn't the end just yet. Journalist Gaston Edul of TyC Sports says Messi is expected to keep playing for the national team, at least through the 2026 Copa America. That would give him one more major tournament in Argentina colours, even though a seventh World Cup in 2030 looks unlikely. Messi would turn 43 partway through that tournament.

This is not the first time Messi has stood at this exact crossroads. He announced his retirement from international football back in 2016 after a Copa America final loss to Chile, only to reverse the decision two months later. He also said in 2022 that Qatar would be his last World Cup, before changing his mind and returning for this tournament at 39.

Whatever happens next, Messi leaves this World Cup with his numbers intact at the top of the game. He finished as Argentina's talisman once again, with 8 goals and 2 assists in the tournament, behind only Kylian Mbappe's 10 goals in the race for the Golden Boot. Across six World Cups now, Messi has scored 21 goals and set up 8 more for Argentina, numbers no other player in the game's history can match.

His club future looks more settled. Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami through the 2028 MLS season. Whether Sunday turns out to be his final World Cup appearance or not, the coming Copa America now carries some extra weight for Argentina fans hoping for one more chapter.