With exactly two months to go until the next World Cup, there is one question that has yet to be answered, although it is taken for granted. Will Lionel Messi play his last World Cup this summer? At the moment, no one doubts that the Argentine star will be on Lionel Scaloni‘s final list, but the truth is that neither the coach nor Messi himself have yet confirmed whether he will participate

And the reason is not that they want to play cat and mouse at this stage, but that the Inter Miami player wants to make the decision with conviction and dispel all the doubts that surround him

Messi will be 39 years old in June and has been playing for three years at Inter Miami, in a league not as competitive as the European leagues. This may raise some concerns about whether he is really at the level that everyone expects. However, in the World Cup qualifiers he made it clear that he is still Argentina’s leader, that he is the reference point for all his teammates and that he maintains his goalscoring and assisting instincts. He also proves it in MLS every week. So he could surely offer the same at the World Cup.

Another issue that could be a concern is the pressure he will be under at the World Cup. It is clear that it will be the greatest from the outside, considering that he is also defending the title of world champion. But the reality is different. He will have much less than in recent championships. He has already removed the thorn in his side and crowned his career with the title he most coveted. So mentally he would be calmer than in recent years

Scaloni wants Messi to play his last World Cup

Scaloni has already warned that if Messi decides to play, it would be for him to enjoy. His last dance. And that will be an advantage for him, even though in the head of the best player in history there is never relaxation and if he plays it will be to try to win again. For him and for his whole country.

His physique is also not the same as in the last World Cups and this is another aspect that worries Messi. Javier Mascherano, his coach in Miami, has always tried to take care of him to try to get him to each match in good shape and incidentally to the World Cup. But if he feels any doubt that he will not be able to help as he would like, he will be the first to step back. Messi’s idea is to play his last World Cup, but only if he can leave a good image. The final decision will be very thoughtful and the football world will be watching when it is announced in the coming days.