Argentina captain Lionel Messi announced on Tuesday he has no plans to play at the 2026 World Cup.
Messi, 35, led Argentina to glory last year in Qatar in what was his fifth World Cup.
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Although he repeatedly said throughout the tournament that it was going to be his last, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, his teammates and fans remained hopeful the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi could feature at the 2026 World Cup that will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada.