Lionel Messi confirms World Cup in Qatar will be his last

Lionel Messi has confirmed that the World Cup in Qatar next month will be the last of his career.

The 35-year-old Argentina star will play in his fifth World Cup but is still seeking his first title at the showpiece tournament.

“Is it my last World Cup? Yes, surely yes, surely yes,” Messi told Star Plus.

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“I am counting down the days to the World Cup. There is a bit of anxiety and nerves at the same time. Wanting it to be now and the nerves that were are already there, what is going to happen. It’s the last one, how are we going to do?” Messi added.

It is the first time the Paris Saint-Germain striker has spoken openly about his future after the tournament, which starts on November 20.

Messi did not make it clear whether he would retire from the national team after Qatar.

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Argentina won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986. The team will open the tournament on November 22 against Saudi Arabia in Group C before facing Mexico and Poland.

“I don’t know whether we are big favourites, but I believe Argentina is a candidate because of its history, which means even more now because of the way we got here,” Messi added.

“But in a World Cup anything can happen, all the matches are very difficult. It isn’t always the favourites who win it,” he said.

(With agency inputs)