Buenos Aires, Feb. 3 -- : Argentine star Lionel Messi stated that his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is subject to his fitness at that time and will try to maintain his best shape given his age factor.
"Because of age, it'll be difficult to make 2026. I love playing football and while I feel like I'm in good shape and enjoying this, I'm going to keep at it. It seems like a long time until the next World Cup, but it depends on how my career is going," Messi told the Argentine publication Diario Ole as quoted by ESPN.
The World Cup champion is 35 years old and will turn 36 on June 24, 2023. By the time the next FIFA World Cup starts, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner will be 39 years old.
Messi stated last year that the tourna...