EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Lionel Messi plans to continue playing for Argentina after the Copa América final on Sunday.
“As I said, I intend to continue,” he said on Tuesday night after Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Canada. “I intend to continue living day to day without thinking about what will come in the future or whether I will continue or not. It’s something I simply live every day. I’m 37 years old and only God knows when the end will be. ”
Messi scored his 109th international goal, his first in this year’s tournament. It was his 14th game in the Copa América, three less than the record.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner spoke outside the MetLife Stadium dressing room, where he announced his retirement after missing a penalty in the penalty shootout defeat to Chile in the 2016 Copa América final. He reversed his decision seven weeks later and has scored 54 goals in 73 international matches since then, taking his appearances for Argentina to 186 and helping them win the Copa América 2021 It is 2022 World Cup.
Teammate Ángel Di María plans to retire after Sunday’s game against Uruguay or Colombia in Miami Gardens, Florida. Di María, 36, made his international debut in 2008 and scored 31 goals in 144 games,
“It’s my last battle. There is nothing left to say that I haven’t already said many times before”, explained Di María. “It’s my last game. I must thank all Argentines and this generation that allowed me to lift so many trophies.”
Di María teamed up with Messi to lead Argentina to their third World Cup and 15th Copa América title.
“We like him a lot,” said Messi. “He always gave his all and his best and the fact that he retired in the final is something he simply deserves.”
Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni remained hopeful that Di María would reverse his decision.
“We don’t want to start crying now. We don’t want to feel melancholy,” said Scaloni. “We have to let him play and then we will see whether or not we can convince him to stay with us.”
South American World Cup qualifying resumes in September, with each national team scheduled to play a further 12 matches. The 2026 World Cup final will be at MetLife, on July 19th.
“We will never be the ones to close the door,” Scaloni said. “He can stay with our team as long as he wants. And if he wants to retire but still comes and stays here, that would be great. And if he wants to go with me somewhere else, I will take him everywhere so he can decide what he wants to do.”
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