Khaberni - Argentine star Lionel Messi has stirred up controversy again with his statements about his footballing future and the possibility of participating in the 2026 World Cup, confirming that he has not yet made a decision about participating in the tournament, at a time when he sent a strong message to the officials of the American football league demanding the abolition of the salary cap in order to develop the competition and attract global stars before the upcoming World Cup.
Lionel Messi spoke in an interview with NBC about the need to review the financial cap system that restricts American clubs, considering it one of the major obstacles to the development of the tournament and improving its level.
He said: "I think every club should be free to contract the players they want without restrictions, because this will help bring big names to the American league and will contribute to raising the level of football in the United States, especially as the 2026 World Cup approaches."
In another part of his conversation, the Argentine legend discussed his future with his national team, saying that he has not yet made a final decision regarding participating in the next World Cup. He explained: "I don't know if I will participate in the 2026 World Cup. I would like to be there, but only if I feel that I am truly able to contribute and continue playing at a good level."
He added: "I will evaluate my situation when I start the preparation period for the new season with Inter Miami, and I will see if I am still able to be useful to the group and to the national team, and then I will make my decision."
Messi admitted that aging naturally affects his performance in some aspects, explaining: "Over the years, a player loses some of the things that distinguished him in his youth, such as speed, reaction time, and seeing the field more quickly, where sometimes the mind is faster than the feet."
Messi, who will celebrate his thirty-eighth birthday before the next World Cup, still maintains his status as one of the top stars in the American league since his move to Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, where he has helped increase the team's popularity and the tournament in general. However, it seems that the Argentine star prefers to wait before making a decision about ending his international career, preferring to assess his physical and moral readiness in the middle of the next season before making a final decision regarding his participation in the World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
