​Is this Lionel Messi’s last World Cup? What Argentina superstar has said about future with national team originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Even at 39 years old, Lionel Messi has been as spectacular in the 2026 World Cup as ever.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Argentina star hasn’t just taken his squad to the semifinals, continuing a quest to go back-to-back with World Cup trophies — he’s done it in style, contending for the Golden Boot, including his first World Cup hat trick early in the tournament.Messi, however, can’t play for Argentina forever. And with the World Cup only arriving every four years, his age has put into question whether this year’s tournament will be his last.Here’s what’s known about Messi’s future World Cup and international retirement plans.2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup ticketsAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor now, this is the question that many soccer fans want an answer to — but Messi hasn’t provided one.While Cristiano Ronaldo explicitly stated after his 2026 World Cup run with Portugal that it was his last, Messi has yet to provide any kind of clarity on his own future in the tournament. But given his age, there’s been a level of expectation that this is his last World Cup.”He’ll keep playing as long as he wants because we already know what he’s capable of,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni previously said of Messi’s World Cup future.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhen he was asked directly about playing in the 2030 World Cup, Messi opted to remain focused on his current situation.”I don’t know. The truth is, I’m not thinking about that right now,” Messi said. “It seems a bit far off but, as I said, I’m living one day at a time and focused on the present.”Once Argentina’s World Cup is over, whether via elimination or by winning a second trophy in a row, Messi should provide more clarity on his interest in playing at the 2030 World Cup. But so far, he’s remained mum about closing that door.MORE: Where Messi currently ranks in quest for 2026 Golden BootAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAt 39 years old now, Messi would be 43 years old in the 2030 World Cup.That wouldn’t quite reach the oldest player to appear in a World Cup — that mark goes to Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who was 45 years and 161 days old for an appearance in 2018.Messi would, however, join Faryd Mondragon as the only other 43-year-olds to play in the World Cup.MORE:Inside Lionel Messi’s goals since turning 30 years oldMessi has remained just as vague about his retirement plans for Argentina as the 2030 World Cup; while it hasn’t been ruled out, he also hasn’t provided any kind of timeline.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementConsidering he remained as elite as ever in the 2026 World Cup, he could choose to continue playing at a high level for longer. But Messi hasn’t been willing to give