Javier Zanetti believes Lionel Messi still has what it takes to lead Argentina in the 2026 World Cup. He said he has “no doubt” that the Inter Miami star will perform well in the tournament held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Even though Messi is 38, he looks ready for one more chance to win big with his country as Argentina tries to keep their title.
Messi reached the top of his career by winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Now, he is thinking about playing in what might be his last international tournament in 2026. Playing in the MLS with Inter Miami, Messi keeps showing his great skill, and Zanetti is sure he can help Argentina win again.
Zanetti said in an interview, “That has to be his decision, but I think yes. There are only a few months to go, and I believe he also wants to represent his country again. I have no doubt it will happen.”
He also disagreed with the idea that Messi might be too old. “I don’t agree with that. Messi is fully capable of continuing as a leader. He’s intelligent, knows better than anyone how to interpret what the team needs, and is surrounded by great players in the national team. I’m convinced that with him, Argentina will be a major contender again at the next World Cup.”
When asked if Messi might keep playing after the World Cup, Zanetti said, “I don’t know if that can be seen in the short term, but I think the time has come for Messi to enjoy football. The most important thing now is that he enjoys what he does. The World Cup will surely be an important testing ground to see how he feels, and then he’ll decide, calmly, whether to continue.”
Earlier in December, Messi was careful when asked about playing in 2026. He said, “I hope I can be there. I’ve said before that I’d love to be there. At worst, I’ll be there watching it live, but it will be special. The World Cup is special for everyone, for any country – especially for us, because we live it in a completely different way.”
He added, “The truth is we have extraordinary players, and it’s been shown for years – especially the desire and excitement since [Lionel] Scaloni took over. The mentality everyone has. It’s a squad full of winners, with strong mindsets, who want to win more, and that’s contagious. You see it in training, in matches. You see them train and they give everything.
“We’re an amazing group that gets along very well, but in training matches or certain drills, if they have to go hard, they go hard. Everyone gives their all, and that’s a huge strength of this group and this national team. Scaloni and his staff built all of this. The day-to-day atmosphere comes from them.
“New players keep appearing; aside from the ones already there, new faces keep coming in. When a group is like this, it’s easier for newcomers to fit in. Argentina needs to take advantage of this moment. Coming off winning the World Cup gives you confidence and relief to prepare competitions differently.”
Leave a comment