JAKARTA - Lionel Messi helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup. His goal in the final helped Argentina beat France in a penalty shootout on Sunday, December 18.
There are rumors that Messi will retire because his dream of bringing Argentina to become world champion has come true. However, it turns out that the player is not willing to do so in the near future.
Pemain Paris Saint-Germain berjanji untuk terus bermain membela negaranya. Dia ingin merasakan sensation berlaga dengan status juara dunia.
"I want to continue to experience matches (in status) as world champion again," said the 35-year-old, as quoted by Antara, Monday, December 19.
But Messi admits his career is almost over after the Argentina captain had failed to win the World Cup trophy.
Messi scored two goals in the thrilling final and ended 3-3 before the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner scored a penalty in a penalty shootout which Argentina won 4-2.
"Of course I want to end my career with this, I don't ask for more," said Messi. "My career is almost over because these are my last years."
After experiencing so much disappointment on the biggest stage of football, including losing the 2014 World Cup final against Germany in Brazil, Messi admits he always feels the time is coming.
"It's amazing it can end like this. I said earlier that God would give me this and I don't know why but I feel this time it will happen," he said.
Messi admitted that it was difficult to explain the final match after Argentina was twice equalized by opponents after winning first. In the quarter-finals a week earlier the Netherlands did what France did in the final.
Argentina took a 2-0 lead in the first half and took a 3-2 lead over extra time but Hattrick Kylian Mbappe forced the game to continue on penalties.
"It was a very strange match, just like the other one against the Netherlands, and then when we took the lead in extra time, it happened again," Messi said.
But, he added, the World Cup trophy was really "good".
Messi hugged his family and team-mates after the game, while coach Lionel Scaloni, winger Angel Di Maria who scored Argentina's second goal, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez couldn't hold back the tears after the final whistle sounded.
Messi has played for Argentina 172 times to score 98 goals since debuting in 2005.
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