Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has stated that his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup (set to be hosted across Canada, the USA, and Mexico) hinges entirely on his physical condition.
The Argentine legend, who led his nation to victory in the 2022 World Cup final, made it clear he will only join the squad if he feels completely fit and in good shape, emphasizing that he does not want to be a “burden” to the team.
Messi explained that he will assess his readiness day-by-day due to the difference between the MLS and European schedules:”Our season is different from Europe. We are going to have a preseason involved, a few games until we reach the World Cup date and see on a day-to-day basis if I really feel good physically to be the way I would like to be and be able to participate.”Should Messi play in the 2026 tournament, he would join Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the only two players to have appeared in six World Cups.