Messi may miss the 2026 World Cup

Lionel Messi may not participate in the 2026 World Cup as part of the Argentina national team. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

According to The Touchline publication, the 38-year-old forward is considering the possibility of missing the tournament. This information was also confirmed by euro-football.ru.

Messi will make his final decision based on his physical condition. If he does not feel fully prepared or if there is even the slightest decline in his level of readiness, he may choose not to participate in the competition.

This decision reflects his healthy approach to his professional career. Additionally, Messi emphasizes that the competitiveness of the MLS championship is not sufficient for high-level preparation for the World Cup.

For this reason, he has realized the necessity of paying special attention to physical training. This may influence his future decisions.

It is worth noting that Argentina will defend its title as the reigning champion at the 2026 World Cup. In the previous World Cup, Argentina won the championship by defeating France in the final through a penalty shootout.