Luis Suárez says Lionel Messi wants to play at 2026 FIFA World Cup

Lionel Messi Inter Miami’s teammate Luis Suarez has revealed that the Argentine wants to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Messi had won the MVP in the previous edition of the World Cup but the Argentine has not yet announced if he wants to play in the upcoming quadrennial event.

After winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Messi revealed that this would be his last World Cup with Argentina but wanted to continue playing with the champion team. The former Barcelona striker also led Argentina to Copa America glory in 2024.

Suárez, when asked if he has spoken about retirement with Messi, the Uruguay forward told El Pais: “No, we do talk [about it.] Jokingly, many times, but he [Messi] also has that desire to play in next year’s World Cup. Obviously, after being away from the national team for a while, that desire is fading more on my side than on his, but we haven’t talked about it [retirement] yet.”

Argentina have already qualified for next year’s World Cup. However, Suarez clarified that Messi hasn’t told him if he is going to play at next year’s showpiece, which would be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

When asked if Messi had told him if he will play at the event, Suárez said: “No, no, no, I don’t ask him either … I know what he is like and I don’t ask him anything regarding that. Time will tell.”

Asked if he is considering retiring from football at the end of the year, Suarez said: “Time will tell how long I’ll be able to do it [for], but I still have that flame of wanting to play, of wanting to compete.

“As long as that flame is lit I will want to continue competing until I can take it no longer. I don’t have a deadline of this [year] or the next. But as long as I’m still keen, still up to it and showing it, I’m going to continue enjoying it.”

Suarez and Messi also played alongside each other for Barcelona.