Messi Says World Cup Journey Will End In Qatar
Football great Lionel Messi said he will play his last FIFA World Cup game when Argentina take on either France or Morocco in Sunday’s final in Qatar.
The Argentine talisman led his country to a 3-0 victory against 2018 finalists Croatia in their semi-final encounter, at the Lusail Stadium in the city of Al Daayen in Qatar.
Messi will earn his 172nd cap for Argentina when he tries to bring the country its first World Cup title since 1986.
“I feel very happy, to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final,” Messi said in an interview.
“It’s many years for the next one and I don’t think I’ll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it’s the best.”
The 35-year-old is playing at his fifth World Cup, surpassing the four of Diego Maradona and Javier Mascherano.
With his fifth goal in Qatar, Messi also surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as the top scorer at World Cups, recording 11 goals.
“It’s all well and good (the records), but the important thing is to be able to achieve the group objective, which is the most beautiful thing of all,” Messi added.
“We’re just one step away, after fighting hard, and we’re going to give everything to try to make it happen this time.”
France meet Morocco in the other 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters.
