It has now been a day since the World Cup final, where Spain defeated Lionel Messi's Argentina 1-0.
With that result, not only did FIFA's biggest international tournament come to an end, but so did an era for Lionel Messi with Argentina at the World Cup.
As an Argentine, losing the final hurts.
But what hurts even more is knowing that the beginning of a world without Lionel Messi at the World Cup is closer than ever, and no one is ever truly prepared for that.
That’s why the question of whether Lionel Messi will retire after what happened at the World Cup is a valid one.
Will Lionel Messi retire after losing the 2026 World Cup final against Spain?
Before diving into that, though, we should all be grateful to have witnessed and lived in the same era as the GOAT.
A world of football without Lionel Messi will feel strange and painful. Even though it's simply the natural course of life, no one is ever truly prepared for it.
Now, returning to the objectivity expected of a writer, as of the time this article is being written, there has been no official announcement regarding Messi's retirement.
The reality is that the Argentine superstar remains under contract with Inter Miami through 2028, which naturally leads many to believe that, given the competitor Lionel Messi has always been, he will stay with the Herons until his deal expires.
Even if the World Cup chapter of Argentina's No. 10 appears to be over, or at least that's the assumption, since playing in the 2030 edition seems both distant and unlikely, it's worth remembering that people said the same thing before this tournament, when Messi was already 39.
So anything is possible. However, his story in international soccer is not over just yet, as Argentina will still compete in the 2028 Copa América.
If we simply connect the dots I mentioned, it would suggest that Lionel Messi will continue playing professionally until 2028, bringing his time with the Argentina national team to an end while also completing his contract with Inter Miami.
Therefore, if this analysis is correct, we have two more years to enjoy watching the greatest soccer player of all time.
The truth is that Lionel Messi’s retirement is close.
It will not happen now, after his defeat against Spain. That’s why one should just enjoy his football in the way we can.
Add us as a preferred source on Google