Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi says he plans to continue playing for the national team beyond Copa America Final thus dismissing any retirement plans at least for now
“As I’ve said before, I intend to continue,” he said Tuesday night after Argentina’s 2-0 win over Canada. “I intend to keep living day by day without thinking about what will come in the future or whether I’ll continue or not. It’s something I just live each day. I’m 37 years and only God knows when the end will be.”
Messi scored his 109th international goal, his first in this year’s tournament. It was his 14th in Copa America play, three shy of the record.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner spoke outside the locker room at MetLife Stadium, where he announced his retirement after missing a penalty kick in the shootout loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa America final.
He reversed his decision seven weeks later and has scored 54 goals in 73 international appearances since, raising his matches for Argentina to 186 as he helped win the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup.
Teammate Ángel Di María will call time on his career after Sunday’s game against Colombia at Miami Gardens, Florida.
The 36-year-old Di María made his international debut in 2008 and has 31 goals in 144 appearances,
“It’s my last battle. There’s nothing left to say that I haven’t said a lot of times before,” Di María explained.
“It’s my last game. I have to say thank you to all Argentineans and to this generation that has allowed me to lift so many trophies.”
Di María joined with Messi to lead Argentina to it’s third World Cup and 15th Copa America title.
No Plans To Quit, I’ll Still Be Here After Copa America Final– Messi
