Argentina star Lionel Messi is not 100% certain he will play in next year’s FIFA World Cup.
The South Americans are one of the countries that have already qualified alongside co-hosts Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Iran, Japan, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, New Zealand, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Colombia are the other teams that have booked their spots.
“Because of my age, the most logical thing is that I won’t make it (to the World Cup),” said 38-year-old Messi, while speaking to the media on Friday morning South African time.
Messi showed no signs of slowing down, netting a brace in Argentina’s 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Venezuela at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
The game was widely reported to be his last for the national team on home soil before he hangs up his boots.
“But well, we are almost there, so I’m excited and motivated to play (in the World Cup). Like I always say, I go day by day, match by match. That’s it—taking it day by day, going by how I feel.
“Day by day trying to feel good and, above all, being honest with myself. When I feel good, I enjoy it, but when I don’t, honestly, I don’t have a good time, so I prefer not to be there if I don’t feel good. So we’ll see. I haven’t made a decision about the World Cup,” he added.
Messi has scored 114 goals, plus 58 assists, in 194 appearances for Argentina, and he’s second on the list of international leading scorers behind Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 138 goals in 221 matches.
