Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Lionel Messi Commits to Playing for Argentina Beyond Copa America Final
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 11 months ago on
July 11, 2024

Argentina's Lionel Messi dribbles during a Copa America semifinal soccer match against Canada in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 9, 2024. (AP/Julia Nikhinson)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

EAST RUTHERFORD — Lionel Messi has announced his intention to continue playing for Argentina beyond Sunday’s Copa America final.

“As I’ve said before, I intend to continue,” he stated on Tuesday night following Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Canada. “I intend to keep living day by day without thinking about what will come in the future or whether I’ll continue or not. It’s something I just live each day. I’m 37 years and only God knows when the end will be.”

Messi scored his 109th international goal, his first in this year’s tournament. It was his 14th in Copa America play, three shy of the record.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner spoke outside the locker room at MetLife Stadium, where he announced his retirement after missing a penalty kick in the shootout loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa America final. He reversed his decision seven weeks later and has scored 54 goals in 73 international appearances since, raising his matches for Argentina to 186 as he helped win the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup.

Teammate Ángel Di María Announces Retirement

Teammate Ángel Di María, however, does intend to retire after Sunday’s game against Uruguay or Colombia at Miami Gardens, Florida. The 36-year-old Di María made his international debut in 2008 and has 31 goals in 144 appearances,

“It’s my last battle. There’s nothing left to say that I haven’t said a lot of times before,” Di María explained. “It’s my last game. I have to say thank you to all Argentineans and to this generation that has allowed me to lift so many trophies.”

Di María joined with Messi to lead Argentina to its third World Cup and 15th Copa America title.

“We’ve enjoyed him so much,” Messi said. “He’s always given his all and the best of himself and that he will retire in a final is something he simply deserves.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni held out hope Di María will reverse his decision.

“We don’t want to start crying right now. We don’t want to feel melancholy,” Scaloni said. “We have to let him play and then we’ll see if we can convince him or not to stay with us.”

South American World Cup Qualifying Resumes in September

South American World Cup qualifying resumes in September, with each national team scheduled to play 12 more matches. The 2026 World Cup final will be at MetLife, that July 19.

“We will never be the ones to close the door,” Scaloni said. “He can be with our team for as long as he wants to be. And if he wants to retire but still come and hang around, it would be great. And if he wants to come with me to somewhere else, I will take him everywhere so he can decide whatever he wants to do.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Authorities Seek Help Finding Relatives of Deceased Fresno Man

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Felecia Johnson

DON'T MISS

How in the World Did Fresno End Up on Trump’s Sanctuary Cities List?

DON'T MISS

X Marks the Spot: Bruised Musk Says His Young Son Punched Him

DON'T MISS

PBS Suing Trump Administration Over Defunding, Three Days After NPR Filed Similar Case

DON'T MISS

Loretta Swit, Emmy-winner Who Played Houlihan on Pioneering TV Series ‘M.A.S.H.,’ Has Died at 87

DON'T MISS

San Francisco 49ers Acquire Eagles Edge Rusher Bryce Huff, AP Source Says

DON'T MISS

California Lawmaker Won’t Be Charged After Citation for Suspicion of Impaired Driving

DON'T MISS

California School Awards Dinner at Disneyland Comes With Hefty Price Tag

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Release Video of Officer-Involved Shooting

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Felecia Johnson

UP NEXT

How in the World Did Fresno End Up on Trump’s Sanctuary Cities List?

UP NEXT

X Marks the Spot: Bruised Musk Says His Young Son Punched Him

UP NEXT

PBS Suing Trump Administration Over Defunding, Three Days After NPR Filed Similar Case

UP NEXT

Loretta Swit, Emmy-winner Who Played Houlihan on Pioneering TV Series ‘M.A.S.H.,’ Has Died at 87

UP NEXT

San Francisco 49ers Acquire Eagles Edge Rusher Bryce Huff, AP Source Says

UP NEXT

California Lawmaker Won’t Be Charged After Citation for Suspicion of Impaired Driving

UP NEXT

California School Awards Dinner at Disneyland Comes With Hefty Price Tag

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Release Video of Officer-Involved Shooting

UP NEXT

Hamas Says It Is Still Reviewing a US Proposal for a Gaza Ceasefire

X Marks the Spot: Bruised Musk Says His Young Son Punched Him

3 hours ago

PBS Suing Trump Administration Over Defunding, Three Days After NPR Filed Similar Case

4 hours ago

Loretta Swit, Emmy-winner Who Played Houlihan on Pioneering TV Series ‘M.A.S.H.,’ Has Died at 87

4 hours ago

San Francisco 49ers Acquire Eagles Edge Rusher Bryce Huff, AP Source Says

4 hours ago

California Lawmaker Won’t Be Charged After Citation for Suspicion of Impaired Driving

5 hours ago

California School Awards Dinner at Disneyland Comes With Hefty Price Tag

6 hours ago

Fresno Police Release Video of Officer-Involved Shooting

6 hours ago

Hamas Says It Is Still Reviewing a US Proposal for a Gaza Ceasefire

6 hours ago

1 in 4 US Children Have Parents With Substance Use Disorder, Study Finds

7 hours ago

Oreo Maker Mondelez Sues Aldi, Alleging Grocery Chain Copies Its Packaging to Confuse Customers

7 hours ago

Authorities Seek Help Finding Relatives of Deceased Fresno Man

The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating family members of a Fresno man who died last month. F...

1 hour ago

The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office is seeking the public’s help to locate the family of Felipe Pech, 68, of Fresno, who died on April 23, 2025. (Fresno County SO)
1 hour ago

Authorities Seek Help Finding Relatives of Deceased Fresno Man

Felecia Johnson is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for May 30, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
2 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Felecia Johnson

3 hours ago

How in the World Did Fresno End Up on Trump’s Sanctuary Cities List?

3 hours ago

X Marks the Spot: Bruised Musk Says His Young Son Punched Him

4 hours ago

PBS Suing Trump Administration Over Defunding, Three Days After NPR Filed Similar Case

4 hours ago

Loretta Swit, Emmy-winner Who Played Houlihan on Pioneering TV Series ‘M.A.S.H.,’ Has Died at 87

4 hours ago

San Francisco 49ers Acquire Eagles Edge Rusher Bryce Huff, AP Source Says

5 hours ago

California Lawmaker Won’t Be Charged After Citation for Suspicion of Impaired Driving

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend