Argentine star, Lionel Messi has said that the FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be his last appearance at the apex competition.
“This will be my last World Cup — for sure. The decision has been made,” the 35-year-old was quoted as saying.
“I’m counting down the days until the World Cup. “The truth is, there’s a little anxiety, saying: ‘Well, we’re here, what’s going to happen? It’s my last one, how’s it going to go?’. On one hand, I can’t wait for it to arrive but I’m also desperate for it to go well,” he added.
“We’re at a very good moment, with a very strong group, but anything can happen at a World Cup. All the matches are difficult, that is what makes a World Cup so special because the favourites are not always the ones who end up winning or even doing as well as you expect.
“I don’t know if we are the favourites, but Argentina in itself is always a candidate for history, for what it means. We are not the favourites, I think there are other teams that are above us.”
The former Barcelona forward is set to play in his fifth World Cup in Qatar – he has scored six goals in the previous four editions of the tournament.
In 2014, the PSG star came close to clinching the crown as he led Argentina to the final where they were beaten 1-0 by Germany after extra-time.
Messi will, however, have his eyes set on bowing out on a high by winning the World Cup in Qatar when the tournament begins in November.
Though his club future is still under speculation, the Argentine is expected to make a final call on it after the World Cup.