Messi is not playing his last world cup says Lionel Scaloni

Lionel Messi may have declared Qatar 2022 will be his last Fifa world cup but Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni is hopeful that will not be the case.

Messi aiming to lift the trophy for the first time in his career. Argentina are one of the pre-tournament favourites but manager Scaloni thinks there is a slim chance Messi could feature at another World Cup.

“It may be the last, but hopefully not. He is happy on the field and he makes a lot of people happy,” he told CNN. “If we take care of him and carry him as we have to, there could possibly be more games for him because the world of football asks for it.”

Messi is heading into the World Cup in great shape after getting back to his best at PSG this season. The forward has 11 goals and 14 assists in just 17 matches for the Ligue 1 champions and will be hoping to reproduce that kind of form for the national team.

Qatar 2022 is the shortest World Cup in FIFA history, It will be a 29 day affair and conclude on December 18, which is incidentally, the Qatar National Day.