On July 15th, in his new home in the United States, Leo Messiadded another achievement to his extraordinary career, surpassing Dani Alves as the player with the most titles in football history. With 46 career trophies and 56 individual accolades-including an astounding eight Ballon d’Or awards-Messi’s legacy is unmatched. And yet, the football icon shows no signs of slowing down, leaving fans eagerly wondering what’s next, especially regarding the 2026 World Cup.
In a special ceremony, MARCA‘s director, Juan Ignacio Gallardo, and Inter Miami president, Jorge Mas, presented Messi with a trophy recognizing him as the most decorated player in football history. But while the recognition was a nod to Messi’s past, his remarks were very much about the future.
Lionel Messi tells Marca he’s still hungry for more titles and aims to elevate Inter Miami’s legacy
On his future in football and the 2026 World Cup
Messi’s comments have sparked speculation about whether he will continue playing at the highest level for a few more years-particularly regarding the next World Cup. When asked about the possibility of playing in the 2026 tournament, Messi offered a measured response:
“I try not to get ahead of myself. I focus on enjoying each day. When the time comes, we’ll see. I don’t like to rush things. Hopefully, I can continue performing at this level because it makes me happy.”
He went on to emphasize that he’s more focused on staying in top form rather than worrying about future milestones.
“I concentrate more on feeling good now, making sure I’m happy and playing well. Whether I’ll make it to the 2026 World Cup or not… we’ll see when the time comes.”
No plans to retire just yet
Though Messi remains cautious about making predictions, he made it clear that retirement isn’t something he’s thinking about right now. After his historic move to Inter Miami, Messi reaffirmed that his decision to come to the United States wasn’t about winding down his career.
“I didn’t come to the U.S. to retire-I came to help build something special with this club. We’ve been fortunate to win more titles, and we’re still hungry for more.”
For fans hoping to see Messi on the world stage again, these comments suggest that he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of competing in another World Cup. But for now, Messi is focused on enjoying every moment and continuing to perform at his peak.
