Copa America 2024: Lionel Messi gears up for his last major tournament appearance for Argentina

Argentine maestro Lionel Messi is gearing up for his final tournament for the national team as the La Albiceleste head into the upcoming Copa America 2024. Messi has not fixed a retirement date but he is unlikely to take part in the FIFA World Cup 2026 that will be co-hosted by the United States of America (USA), Canada, and Mexico.
“I don’t think about that yet. The moment I feel that I am not going to help my team, I will retire,” Messi said in March in an interview with Saudi broadcaster Riyad Season. “I always ate well, trained. But as I grew I became aware that the physical effort we make is getting harder. As you grow old, things become more difficult.”

Messi had struggled with muscular injuries last season and he has increasingly been seen spending a large chunk of his time with his family. He has also started new businesses and a general perception says that football has become a smaller part of his life now. He still netted 12 goals and 13 assists for Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS)
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“I have a good time at the club. I am lucky to have teammates and friends (Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, all former Barcelona players) by my side,” Messi told ESPN. ”I have a good time in the national team, where I have teammates and friends, too. And I enjoy the little details that I know that when I don’t play anymore, I’m going to miss.”

Messi further mentioned that he will continue contributing as long as he feels fine doing it. His only point of focus currently is to do well in the Copa America at the moment, and he maintains that he is committed towards competing strongly in it. He argued that Argentina will fight again and try to be the champions.

“As long as I feel like I’m fine and I can continue contributing, I’m going to do it. Today, the only thing I think about is getting to the Copa America well and being able to compete in it,” Messi told the Star Plus platform in December. “Fighting for it again, as we always did, trying to be champions.”

Argentina start their Copa America campaign against Canada in their Group A game at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.