Host Country: Qatar Date: November 20-December 18 Cover : Direct to BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Day-to-day TV programs – Full coverage details |
Lionel Messi believes Sunday’s final will be his last appearance for Argentina at a World Cup.
The Argentina striker scored his fifth Qatar 2022 goal in Tuesday’s 3-0 semi-final against Croatia and admitted afterwards he did not expect to feature in a sixth World Cup in four at
He said: « Obviously I’m very happy to have finished my World Cup journey in the final, to play the last match in the final. It’s really very rewarding.
« Everything I have experienced in this World Cup has been emotional, considering how much it has been appreciated in Argentina.
“There are many years between this year and the next. I don’t think I will be able to do that. Ending this way is brilliant. »
- FIFA World Cup: schedule and route just before the final
- Qatar 2022 on the verge of Messi’s World Cup event
- ‘Best of all time’ and ‘magical’ – reaction to ‘real’ Messi
Messi, 35, won almost every accolade in the game. He has won the Ballon d’Or – designated the best player in the world – a record seven times and has also won Fifa’s Best Men’s Player award once.
Other honors including four Champions League triumphs, 11 top-flight titles and Copa America glory in 2021.
Now Messi, who will make a record 26th appearance in a men’s World Cup in Sunday’s final against either France or Morocco, one more chance to take the biggest trophy of them all.
« The target is the collective goal, » he said. « We’re going to do our best like we’ve done so far to make this time around really happen, we really win it.
“I have enjoyed the past few years being with the national team. I really appreciate everything that happens to us. Getting the Copa America, reaching the World Cup with 36 games unbeaten and finishing that whole trajectory in a final is just amazing.
“I hope people in Argentina will have fun and enjoy what we are doing. They should have no doubt that we give absolutely everything. »
The Paris St-Germain striker is one of six men to have played in five World Cups alongside Antonio Carbajal, Lothar Matthaus, Rafa Marquez, Andres Guardado and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Currently co-top scorer with Kylian Mbappe in Qatar, Messi also became the first player to score in four different World Cup tournaments for Argentina in a tournament that saw him become his country’s top marksman. in the World Cup with 11 goals.
The Paris St-Germain striker, who also provided three assists at this tournament, made his debut in 2005 aged 18 and has since made 172 appearances and scored 97 goals.
Get the latest results and goal notifications for any FIFA World Cup team by downloading the BBC Sport app: fries – android – Amazon
Get your daily dose of FIFA World Cup reaction, debate and analysis with world cup everyday on BBC Sounds