Infantino wants Messi to play on until the 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has suggested Lionel Messi should play at the 2034 World Cup, despite the legendary Argentina star set to be 47 at the time of the tournament.
Infantino made the claim while attending a CONMEBOL Legends event, where he was asked about the prospect of Messi, 36, featuring at the next World Cup in 2026.
The FIFA president expressed his hopes the Argentina captain will feature at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Infantino then suggested Messi should continue to play on for as long as possible.
'I want Messi in the next World Cup, the one that follows and the one in 2034 as well,’ Infantino told DSports. ‘As long as he wants’.
It is unclear how serious the FIFA president was with his suggestion, with the Swiss official's comment appearing to be delivered in a light-hearted way to the Argentina reporter.
The question, however, comes with the Inter Miami star appearing to remain open to featuring at the 2026 World Cup.
Messi had claimed back in June he had no plans to play in the next World Cup, after leading his nation to glory in Qatar last year.
'I think not. [Qatar] was my last World Cup,' Messi had told the Efe News Agency,
'I'll see how things go, but as it is right now, no, I won't go to the next World Cup.'
Messi's stance has softened since with the eight-time Ballon D'Or winner suggesting featuring at a sixth World Cup would depend on his fitness.
'I've already said it still seems a long way away,' Messi said in September.
'Yes, my goal is to play in the Copa America, which is also here in the United States and next year. After, we'll see.'
If Messi was to pursue Infantino's remarkable suggestion, he would be able to feature in a home match at a World Cup for the first time.
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