The international window is underway and Lionel Messi is back with Argentina’s national team for the first time since winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Nonetheless, at 35 years old, there’s plenty of conversation regarding how long Messi intends to keep playing for Argentina and it might seem he has his eyes on the 2024 Copa América.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni spoke about Messi’s future and he is leaving the decision up to the Paris Saint-Germain star.
“Messi will continue to come until he says otherwise. I see him happy on the pitch and within the selection,” Scaloni said.
“The objective of continuing to play at the same level. We can win, we can lose, but let us be hard to beat (.. .) Now it’s going to be harder than ever because everyone is going to want to beat us.”
🎙 @lioscaloni en conferencia: "Leo (#Messi) está bien, hasta que él no diga lo contrario, seguirá viniendo. Él es feliz dentro de una cancha, dentro de la Selección".
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) March 21, 2023
Messi wants to remain in Europe and is likely to partake in the Copa América, which will be in the United States and could be his send-off into retirement regarding international football.
However, while the Argentine will enjoy his time with new teammates, he has to have his future in the back of his mind. The former FC Barcelona star will have his contract expiring in June and will need to decide where he’ll play the 2023-24 season.
