Lionel Messi has been warned by Cristiano Ronaldo after Argentina’s World Cup triumph

Lionel Messi has been warned by Cristiano Ronaldo after Argentina’s World Cup triumph

The five time Balon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo’s Qatar experience should serve as a warning to Lionel Messi to resist the temptation to play on until the next World Cup.

Messi might continue playing in North America until 2026, according to Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni, who made a point of doing so.

Lionel Messi (Getty images)

By then, he will be 39, yet at this World Cup, players like Canada’s Atiba Hutchinson and Brazil’s Dani Alves, both 39 at the time, played for their countries in Qatar.

“We need to save him a spot for the World Cup 2026,” said Scaloni.

“If he wants to keep playing, he will be with us. He is more than entitled to decide whether he wants to keep playing for Argentina or not or what he wants to do with his career.”

However, Messi’s longtime rival Ronaldo’s tragic exit in Qatar 2022 should serve as a warning to the Argentina captain not to strive to outlast old age.

After Portugal’s quarterfinal loss to Morocco, Ronaldo, then 37, was relegated to the role of a bit-part replacement and sobbed his way out of the competition.

Even though that does not negate all of Ronaldo’s excellent contributions to his country, his farewell World Cup appearance left a sorrowful impression.

As the world’s happiest man, Messi was present on the field at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday night with his wife and children. as a fitting conclusion to an exceptional international career.

Messi’s intention is to play on for Argentina for the foreseeable future – “I want to keep on playing for Argentina”.

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