2023-06-13 20:33:19
He said Argentine Lionel Messi, World Cup Qatar 2022 championOn Tuesday, he said he would not participate “in principle” in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, during an interview with Chinese media.
Messi, 35, said in an interview with Titan Sports, in response to a question about whether he would participate in the next edition in the United States, Canada and Mexico. How is it going, but as a matter of principle, I don’t think I will participate in the next World Cup.”
It is noteworthy that the world champion is currently in the capital, Beijing, to participate Thursday in a friendly match with his country against Australia.
And Messi previously hinted last February about his absence from the upcoming finals.
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“It will be difficult given my age,” he said in an interview with the Argentine newspaper “Oli”. It would be about thirty-nine by then.
The Argentine star, who arrived in Beijing on Saturday, will lead the world champions against Socceroos at the Beijing Workers’ Stadium, which has a capacity of 68,000 spectators.
His arrival caused excitement in the country, and tickets for the match quickly fetched 4,800 yuan (620 euros).
The world champion also touched on the possibility of winning the Golden Ball for the eighth time in his career, as it is expected that the competition will be between him and the Norwegian Erling Haaland, who achieved the hat-trick in his first season with Manchester City, England.
In this regard, he said, “I have always said that individual awards are not the most important thing for me, but group awards have always been the most important thing.”
He continued, “The most important award was the World Cup, this award is the best for me, the truth is that at this stage of my career, if it comes, then it is good, and if it does not come, then there is no problem.”
France 24/AFP
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