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SPORTS DESK: Lionel Messi, the greatest goalscorer in World Cup history, has surpassed Miroslav Klose’s record, bringing his total tally to 18 goals across six World Cups. While many believe the current tournament is his final appearance in an Argentina jersey, the legendary Argentine captain did not rule out the possibility of participating in the 2030 World Cup during an interview on his birthday.
Today, Messi turned 39, yet he remains uninterested in discussions regarding retirement. When asked about the prospect of playing in the centenary World Cup, the Inter Miami star replied, “I don’t know. To be honest, I’m not thinking about that right now. It feels a bit far away, but as I’ve said—I am living day by day, and currently, I am focused on the present. As long as I can contribute, stay physically fit, and help my teammates, I will continue to play”.
Messi began the campaign with a hat-trick against Algeria, setting a record as the oldest player to score a hat-trick in World Cup history. Later, he scored a brace in the 2-0 victory over Austria, breaking Klose’s record of 16 goals. Although he missed a penalty in that match, Messi smiled and said, “If I had scored the penalty, maybe I wouldn’t have scored the other two. You never know—but I am happy with the result”.
On his 39th birthday, Messi shared a video of himself doing pull-ups at the Argentina training camp, a testament to his tireless work ethic, which sets him apart from many of his peers.
Argentina has already secured their spot in the knockout stage with one match remaining in Group J. Coach Scaloni might rest key players in the final group match against Jordan. Messi’s devastating form on the road to the final in New York keeps Argentina as one of the top contenders for the title.
