Lionel Messi confirmed that he will retire after the December 18 FIFA World Cup 2022 championship game. The Argentine captain announced that the summit match would be his final in the sky and white stripes after scoring from the penalty spot and contributing equally to Julian Alvarez’s other two goals against Croatia to advance his nation to the final.
I feel very happy to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final, Messi told Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole. It’s many years for the next one and I don’t think I’ll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it’s the best, added the Argentina captain.
The 35-year-old is participating in his fifth World Cup, surpassing Javier Mascherano and Diego Maradona’s four.With his fifth goal in Qatar, he also surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as the top Albiceleste scorer at World Cups, netting 11 times. In front of a large crowd at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium, the PSG forward put up a performance that many regarded as his greatest in recent times. This will be Messi’s final opportunity to win the World Cup before he hangs up his boots. He had lost to Germany in Brazil in 2014 and come in second place.
It’s all well and good (the records), but the important thing is to be able to achieve the group objective, which is the most beautiful thing of all, Messi added. We’re just one step away, after fighting hard, and we’re going to give everything to try to make it happen this time.Tuesday’s victory prompted thousands of fans to take to the streets in Argentina to celebrate the national team’s sixth World Cup final appearance.Argentina will face either 2018 champions France (Group D winners) or Morocco (Group F winners) in the final.
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