Another good news for Argentine football fans everywhere is that Lionel Messi, their star player, has said he has no intention of slowing down and that he wants to compete as the world champion. “I won’t be leaving the national team, No.” After the game, Messi was quoted by a number of media outlets as saying,
“I want to keep playing as the World Cup champion with Argentina shirt. In what was Argentine talisman Lionel Messi’s final World Cup, Argentina prevailed in the hard-fought championship match on Sunday. Argentina won the game 4-2 on penalties after the score remained tied at the end of the second half of extra time.
After a thrilling World Cup final at Lusail, in which the legendary striker’s World Cup dreams came true following a 4-2 victory over France on penalties, Lionel Messi was presented with the Golden Ball, the award given to the best player of a FIFA World Cup.
Messi, who was competing in his final FIFA World Cup this year, was at his best the entire competition. The 35-year-old legend did it all, including scoring important goals, converting penalties, and assisting teammates in scoring. Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick for France, and Messi scored twice as the game ended in a 3-3 draw after extra time.
Messi also scored in the shootout, where Argentina eventually won. There was a possibility Messi would decide to end his illustrious 172-cap career with Argentina, with whom he also won the Copa America last year, as there was nothing significant left to win on the international, European, or domestic stages.
But he assured supporters that he intends to remain a member of the national team following the trophy ceremony. Following Argentina’s loss to Chile in the Copa America final in 2016, Messi announced his retirement from international football. He mustered the courage to join the Argentina national team once more, though.
