World Cup winner Lionel Messi had indicated that his outing in the World Cup final would be his last on the international stage, but it seems the Argentina superstar isn't ready to call time on his glittering international career just yet.
The 35-year-old led from the front with two goals in a thrilling 3-3 extra-time draw with France in Qatar on Sunday and then scored in the penalty shoot-out as Argentina lifted the trophy for the third time, but the first for him.
Speaking afterwards he told Argentinian TV station TyC Sports: "Obviously I wanted to cap my career with this and I can't ask for anything more. What will happen after this? I've managed to win the Copa America and the World Cup almost at the end... I love football, it's what I do. I enjoy being in the national team and want to continue by experiencing a few more games as a world champion."
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Whether or not "a few more games" will constitute a title defence in four years' time remains to be seen, but head coach Lionel Scaloni is hoping so.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Scaloni said: "First of all, we need to save him a spot for the next World Cup in 2026. If he wants to keep playing, he'll be with us.
"I think that he's more than entitled to decide whether he wants to keep playing for Argentina or not, or what he wants to do with his career.
"It's such a huge pleasure for us to coach him and his team-mates. Everything that he meets until his team-mates is something unparalleled, something I've never seen before. A player, a person who gives so much to his team-mates."
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