Messi Vows to Keep Playing Until His Body Gives Out Ahead of Sixth World Cup

Lionel Messi has made it clear: he will keep playing soccer until he physically can't anymore. In a YouTube interview, the 39-year-old Argentine icon said, "I love playing football and I’m going to do it until I can’t anymore."

Messi is preparing for his record sixth World Cup, which kicks off June 14, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. He and Argentina are aiming to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962.

But fitness is a concern. Messi is recovering from a hamstring injury. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has a fractured finger; defender Cristian Romero has a knee issue, and several other key players are dealing with muscle injuries.

Argentina opens Group J against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City. Coach Lionel Scaloni has kept 17 players from the 2022 squad, saying their level hasn't dropped. He defended his decision: "Why change them if they don’t deserve that?"

Messi, who already holds the record for most World Cup matches (26), needs four goals to surpass Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16. While he hasn't officially announced retirement, last September he hinted that his qualifying match against Venezuela might be his last competitive home game.

As Scaloni put it: "I like to think he’s going to keep playing because otherwise you get sad."