Coach Lionel Scaloni's inclusion of Lionel Messi in the 2026 World Cup squad did not surprise many. Although he will turn 39 this month and is not in the best physical condition, the Inter Miami superstar is still an irreplaceable leader in Argentina's journey to defend the throne.
According to an announcement from Inter Miami, Messi is experiencing overload leading to left hamstring muscle fatigue. This is not too unusual for a player who has fought at the top of world football for more than two decades. However, what makes fans question is why Messi continues to play when he has almost nothing to prove.
After winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, many people believe that Messi has completed his entire career. The World Cup trophy is the only title missing in his massive collection, and also closes the long-standing debate about the greatest player in football history.
For most players, retiring at the top level is a luxury. Many people are forced to leave the national team due to age, injuries or decisions from the coaching staff. Messi once had a perfect opportunity to do so after the magical night in Lusail, where he raised the World Cup title in the role of Argentina captain.
The world title has always been Messi's biggest dream in his career. For many years, the inability to help Argentina win the World Cup has often been used as a reason to compare Messi with Diego Maradona, despite the extraordinary achievements he has achieved at the club and national team levels.
There was a time when that dream seemed to break down. After the defeat to France in the round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup, El Pulga's future in the Albiceleste jersey became bleak. But just 4 years later, he wrote the most beautiful ending possible in Qatar.
The 2022 World Cup championship not only completed Messi's collection of titles, but also put him in the position of an immortal symbol of world football. However, instead of stopping, he continued to choose to conquer new challenges.
World Cup 2026 is therefore no longer a tournament for Messi to assert himself. It is an opportunity for him to enjoy his last years in the national team jersey, and at the same time pass on experience and the spirit of victory to Argentina's next generation.
With Messi, perhaps this journey is no longer revolving around cups or records. After all, it is simply because the love he has for football has never cooled down. El Pulga does not see the world championship as the end point of the journey, but as motivation to continue conquering new challenges.
Immediately after being crowned, Messi quickly affirmed that he has no intention of retiring. The desire for victory, sometimes obscured by his calm personality, is still intact.
Although he has won all the most prestigious titles in world football, Messi still maintains his passion and motivation to play like in the early days of his career. Above all, the biggest reason why he continues to be associated with the Argentine national team is probably very simple: Messi still loves football.
That love has helped him overcome pressure, bitter failures and huge expectations for more than two decades. And it is that love that is bringing him to his sixth World Cup in his career, not to prove anything, but simply because he still wants to enjoy moments on the pitch with Albiceleste.
