{"id":1877533,"date":"2026-04-11T12:52:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T09:52:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1877533"},"modified":"2026-04-11T12:52:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T09:52:11","slug":"why-hasnt-lionel-messi-confirmed-if-he-will-play-at-the-next-world-cup-the-doubts-that-haunt-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1877533","title":{"rendered":"Why hasn&#8217;t Lionel Messi confirmed if he will play at the next World Cup? The doubts that haunt him"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/phantom.estaticos-marca.com\/2ce8300a6f86188adc11ed8c6b65782e\/resize\/1200\/f\/webp\/assets\/multimedia\/imagenes\/2026\/03\/30\/17748799020063.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"ue-c-article\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__header\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__main-column\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__header \">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__header-content ue-l-article--expand-right-full-from-tablet ue-l-article--expand-right-half-from-desktop\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__kicker-group\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__kicker-container\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__kicker\">2026 World Cup<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h1 id=\"H1_js_69da42c4268e3e67128b4571\" class=\"ue-c-article__headline js-headline js-headlineb\">Why hasn&#8217;t Lionel Messi confirmed if he will play at the next World Cup? The doubts that haunt him<\/h1>\n<p class=\"ue-c-article__standfirst\">Everything points to the star being with Argentina, but he has not yet confirmed it<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__body\" data-section=\"articleBody\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__main-column ue-l-article--minimum-content-from-tablet\">\n<figure class=\"ue-c-article__media ue-c-article__media--image ue-c-article--media-icon-m-from-phablet ue-l-article--expand-left-full-from-tablet ue-c-article__media--main-media\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-img-container ue-l-article--expand-edge-right-until-tablet ue-l-article--expand-edge-left-until-tablet has-image\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1010px) 660px, (min-width: 980px) calc(100vw - 330px), (min-width: 740px) calc(100vw - 310px), 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phantom.estaticos-marca.com\/9ce071e3b91366e124404cd0abffae0e\/resize\/360\/f\/webp\/assets\/multimedia\/imagenes\/2026\/03\/30\/17748799020063.jpg 360w,https:\/\/phantom.estaticos-marca.com\/4fdbcb3913dd6f70c17b05125f7743ab\/resize\/375\/f\/webp\/assets\/multimedia\/imagenes\/2026\/03\/30\/17748799020063.jpg 375w,https:\/\/phantom.estaticos-marca.com\/43f119680df78ac70a5e9c1713e6b4f8\/resize\/414\/f\/webp\/assets\/multimedia\/imagenes\/2026\/03\/30\/17748799020063.jpg 414w,https:\/\/phantom.estaticos-marca.com\/e0171dd7572d4e8419808370354d8dd3\/resize\/660\/f\/webp\/assets\/multimedia\/imagenes\/2026\/03\/30\/17748799020063.jpg 660w,https:\/\/phantom.estaticos-marca.com\/95937ec98c73e4e5581ee53580200563\/resize\/720\/f\/webp\/assets\/multimedia\/imagenes\/2026\/03\/30\/17748799020063.jpg 720w,https:\/\/phantom.estaticos-marca.com\/000f5f728ec2f392a656a00cf74a1932\/resize\/750\/f\/webp\/assets\/multimedia\/imagenes\/2026\/03\/30\/17748799020063.jpg 750w,https:\/\/phantom.estaticos-marca.com\/8d165b9febad2ccf6615cb69dbcad29e\/resize\/828\/f\/webp\/assets\/multimedia\/imagenes\/2026\/03\/30\/17748799020063.jpg 828w,https:\/\/phantom.estaticos-marca.com\/73dc40280b99c99f7ee724759937daad\/resize\/1320\/f\/webp\/assets\/multimedia\/imagenes\/2026\/03\/30\/17748799020063.jpg 1320w\" \/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar ue-c-article__bar--horizontal-from-tablet\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar-body\">\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__byline ue-l-article--grow-from-desktop\" aria-label=\"Redaccin:\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__byline-item\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__byline-name\">SONIA GAUDIOSO<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__publishdate\" aria-label=\"Fecha de publicacin\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-11T12:52:14Z\"><br \/>\n11\/04\/2026<br \/>\n&#8211;<br \/>\n07:52<br \/>\n<abbr title=\"Central Daylight Time\">CDT<\/abbr><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar-secondary ue-u-hide-until-tablet ue-l-article--leftcol-width-from-tablet ue-l-article--float-left-from-tablet-no-margin ue-l-article--move-to-leftcol-from-tablet ue-u-sticky-top-80\">\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools  ue-c-article__share-tools--direction-column js_socialMedia\" aria-label=\"Compartir artculo en Redes Sociales\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--facebook\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Facebook<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--twitter\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Twitter<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--telegram\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Telegram<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--whatsapp\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Whatsapp<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--email\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Enviar por email<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles ue-l-article--width-1of2-from-mobile ue-l-article--width-1of3-from-desktop ue-l-article--float-right-from-mobile  ue-c-article__subtitles--boxed\" aria-label=\"Contenido relacionado\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-kicker\"><br \/>\nSoccer.<br \/>\n<\/span>Neymar is closing in on Leo Messi, but not in the way anyone expected: Cincinnati does the math<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-kicker\"><br \/>\nTickets.<br \/>\n<\/span>Get the best tickets for NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB games, and more on Tickets MARCA!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__body\">\n<p class=\"ue-c-article--first-letter-highlighted\"><span class=\"capital-letter\">W<\/span>ith 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 <strong>Lionel Messi<\/strong> play his last World Cup this summer? At the moment, no one doubts that the Argentine star will be on <strong>Lionel Scaloni<\/strong>&#8216;s final list, but the truth is that neither the coach nor Messi himself have yet confirmed whether he will participate<\/p>\n<p>And the reason is not that they want to play cat and mouse at this stage, but that the <strong>Inter Miami<\/strong> player wants to make the decision with conviction and dispel all the doubts that surround him<\/p>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__summary\">\n<figure class=\"ue-c-article__media ue-c-article__media--video  video-dailymotion\"><figcaption class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption-inner\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-description\">Messi training shot incident<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>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&#8217;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 <strong>MLS<\/strong> every week. So he could surely offer the same at the World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>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<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"ue-c-article__subheadline\">Scaloni wants Messi to play his last World Cup<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>His physique is also not the same as in the last World Cups and this is another aspect that worries Messi. <strong>Javier Mascherano<\/strong>, 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&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr class=\"taboola-art-mid-script\" data-ue-is-premium=\"false\" data-ue-is-basic=\"true\" data-ue-is-mobile=\"false\" data-ue-language=\"en\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__tags-container\">\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__tags\" aria-label=\"Etiquetado como:\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">Argentina National Football Team &#8211; English<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">Lionel Messi &#8211; English<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">FIFA World Cup &#8211; English<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">Inter Miami &#8211; English<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news\" aria-label=\"Artculos relacionados\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-kicker\">2026 FIFA World Cup USA<\/span>Verstappen breaks down why Messi is nearly impossible to defend\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-kicker\">2026 FIFA World Cup USA<\/span>Lionel Messi and Argentina learn their final opponents ahead of the World Cup\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-kicker\">MLS &#8211; Major League Soccer<\/span>After Messi&#8217;s Inter Miami goal and CR7&#8217;s brace for Al Nassr: How does the race to 1,000 goals stand?\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-popular-links ue-c-popular-links--closed js-featured-links\">\n<ul class=\"list ue-c-popular-links__list hidden-content\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item\">\nWorld Cup News\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item\">\nWorld Cup Winners\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item\">\nLionel Messi\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item\">\nLiga MX\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item\">\nChampions League\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item\">\nUCL Winners\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item\">\nEuropa League Winners\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.marca.com\/en\/world-cup\/2026\/04\/11\/69da42c4268e3e67128b4571.html&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/phantom.estaticos-marca.com\/2ce8300a6f86188adc11ed8c6b65782e\/resize\/1200\/f\/webp\/assets\/multimedia\/imagenes\/2026\/03\/30\/17748799020063.jpg&#8221;] 2026 World Cup Why hasn&#8217;t Lionel Messi confirmed if he will play at the next World Cup? The doubts that haunt him Everything points to the star being with Argentina, but he has not yet confirmed it SONIA GAUDIOSO 11\/04\/2026 &#8211; 07:52 CDT Compartir en Facebook Compartir en Twitter Compartir en Telegram [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,45],"class_list":["post-1877533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-marca-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1877533","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1877533"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1877533\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1877533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1877533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1877533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}