PARIS: Lionel Messi’s career seemed complete after leading Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup, but the motivation to keep playing is still there for him and his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo as the duo prepare to make history at this year’s tournament in North America.
This will be the last dance for Messi and Ronaldo, who will become the first players to appear in six different World Cups, two decades after their fresh debuts at the finals.
They have since become icons far beyond the football field, two of the most recognizable people on the planet as they enter middle age and contemplate retirement.
Messi appeared to suggest there would be little point in continuing after he captained Argentina to victory in Qatar.
“Obviously I wanted to end my career with this. I can’t ask for more,” he said after leading Lionel Scaloni’s side to victory over France on penalties in that World Cup final in Doha.
“My career is coming to an end because these are my last years. What more can there be after this?”
Much more, it turns out.
Messi was in the midst of an underwhelming spell at Paris Saint-Germain then, and six months later he left for Major League Soccer.
There he is excellent with Inter Miami, with whom he won the MLS Cup last year.
He may no longer be playing at the very highest level every week, but he remains vital to Argentina.
The Barcelona legend captained his country to victory at the 2024 Copa America in the United States and was top scorer in the South American World Cup qualifiers.
“I love to play football and I will do it until I can’t anymore,” he said recently.
At one point there was doubt whether he would play at another World Cup, a tournament he first reached in 2006 when, as an 18-year-old, he scored in a 6-0 demolition of Serbia and Montenegro in Gelsenkirchen.
200 international matches, goal record in sight
“I will do everything to make sure he is there,” insisted Scaloni, with Messi now just two games away from reaching 200 caps.
He is set to add to his record of 26 appearances in World Cup matches, including their run to the 2014 finals in Brazil.
Messi has 13 World Cup goals, meaning Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 is within striking distance, especially as Argentina’s group opponents do not appear to be the toughest.
They will begin against Algeria and Austria before tackling Jordan in Dallas, three days after Messi’s 39th birthday.
He has a few years on Ronaldo, but the 41-year-old Portuguese talisman was determined to continue his international career in the hope of winning the ultimate prize.
Ronaldo was a teenager when he lost the 2004 Euro final to Portugal on home soil, but he made up for it by leading them to victory at Euro 2016.
Yet the World Cup has proved more difficult, at least since Portugal reached the semi-finals in 2006.
Portugal have won just one World Cup knockout game since they hammered Switzerland 6-1 in 2022, with Ronaldo dropped to the bench.
‘Exemplary commitment’
Roberto Martinez became coach after that and restored Ronaldo as first-choice striker, which he remains despite not scoring at Euro 2024 as Portugal lost in the last eight.
He is the most capped men’s player of all time with 226 caps and the former Real Madrid and Manchester United superstar is now set to win the Saudi title with Al Nassr.
Ronaldo recently confirmed that this would be his last World Cup, insisting: “I will be 41 years old and I think this will be the moment.”
Portugal, who are drawn in a group with Colombia, Uzbekistan and DR Congo, are genuine contenders to win it, although there are doubts as to whether Ronaldo can hold back a talented squad.
Personally, Ronaldo will try to add to his eight World Cup goals and finally get a first place in the knockout stage.
“He is more than just a footballer, but for the national team that is all he is,” Martinez said in an interview with the Portuguese television station. RTP.
“He is the captain and he shows exemplary commitment to his country. He is incredible.”
Lifting the World Cup at 41 would be quite the way for Ronaldo to finish – and if both Portugal and Argentina top their groups, he and Messi would be on course to meet in the quarter-finals in Kansas City on July 11.
