BUENOS AIRES : Argentina Football Association president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia said Lionel Messi should be allowed to decide for himself when he wants to retire, after the 39-year-old enjoyed another outstanding World Cup campaign.
Messi, who turned 39 in June, has yet to indicate when he plans to end his international career or how much longer he intends to play for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
“It’s a decision that is purely and personally his,” Tapia said in an interview with Argentine television, according to a translation.
“You have to let him relax. In 2022, we didn’t know if he’d play in 2026. He said it was game by game, and I think we’ve seen a great version — if not the best — of Leo in a World Cup.”
Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists as Argentina reached the World Cup final, where they lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time in the United States last month.
The tournament had not been a certainty for Messi after he led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar. But Tapia said the forward remained the driving force behind the team.
“It was a great World Cup from Leo,” Tapia said. “We enjoyed it a lot, and we’ve got to feel proud. I enjoyed every moment.”
“Without a doubt, he was the standard-bearer of this group in the World Cup. If you analyze the World Cup he had, for me he was the best player. He was breaking records match after match.”
Messi also surpassed Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the leading scorer in World Cup history before France forward Kylian Mbappe moved past him to finish the tournament with 22 goals, one more than the Argentine.
Tapia said Messi should continue playing for as long as he enjoys the game.
“You have to let him keep enjoying playing football and after that he’ll make the decision he feels is the right one,” he said.
Messi would be 43 during the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay also hosting one match each as part of the tournament’s centenary celebrations.
The oldest non-goalkeeper to appear in a World Cup match is Cameroon’s Roger Milla, who was 42 years and 39 days old, according to FIFA.
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo also featured at this year’s tournament at the age of 41.
