Lionel Messi intends to continue playing for Argentina beyond this Sunday’s Copa America final.
“As I’ve mentioned before, my plan is to continue,” he stated on Tuesday night following Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Canada. “I take each day as it comes without thinking too much about the future or whether I’ll keep playing. I’m 37 years old, and only God knows when I’ll stop.”
Messi scored his 109th international goal, his first in this year’s tournament and his 14th in Copa America history, just three goals short of the record.
Speaking outside the locker room at MetLife Stadium, where he famously announced his international retirement after Argentina’s shootout loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa America final, Messi reversed that decision seven weeks later.
Since then, he has scored 54 goals in 73 appearances for Argentina, bringing his total to 186 matches. He played a crucial role in winning the 2021 Copa America and helped his team to the 2022 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Messi’s teammate Ángel Di María has confirmed he will retire after Sunday’s game against Uruguay or Colombia in Miami Gardens, Florida. The 36-year-old made his international debut in 2008 and has scored 31 goals in 144 appearances.
“This is my final battle. There’s nothing more to say that I haven’t already said many times before,” Di María explained. “It’s my last match. I want to thank all Argentinians and this generation that has allowed me to lift so many trophies.”
Reflecting on Di María’s career, Messi said, “We’ve enjoyed him so much. He has always given his best, and retiring in a final is something he truly deserves.”
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni remains hopeful that Di María might reconsider his retirement decision.
