Lionel Messi confirmed in an interview with Chinese media on Tuesday that he does not think he will play in another FIFA World Cup after the 35-year-old led Argentina to victory in last year’s tournament in Qatar.

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When asked in a video interview by China’s Titan Sports whether he could participate in the 2026 tournament in North America, he said, “I’ve said many times before that I don’t think so, that (2022) It was my last World Cup.” ,

“I’ll see how things go but in principle I don’t think I’ll be around for the next World Cup,” he added in Spanish in a video published on the app Kuaishou.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is currently in Beijing where Argentina will play a friendly against Australia on Thursday.

His comments came after he told Argentine newspaper Ole earlier this year that playing in another World Cup would be “very difficult”.

He will turn 39 during the next tournament.

Messi announced last week that he would join MLS side Inter Miami after his two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain expired.

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Argentina will play a friendly against Australia on Thursday at the 68,000-capacity Workers’ Stadium in Beijing. The match was a repeat of the last-16 encounter between the teams at the World Cup in Doha, which Argentina won 2–1.

Tickets have been swiftly snapped up despite being sold at soaring prices of 4,800 yuan, with Chinese fans desperate to see the former Barcelona star in action.