LIONEL MESSI has refused to commit to leading Argentina into next summer’s World Cup.
The reigning champions were the first South American team to qualify for the tournament, securing their spot on March 25 when Bolivia drew 0-0 with Hungary.
Yet, with the MLS season on the brink of completion and not resuming until late February, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi knows plying his trade in the US risks his effectiveness at the World Cup.
Despite having 195 caps for his country – netting 114 goals in the process – Messi is yet to reveal whether he will don the famous light blue and white shirt next summer.
Speaking to Spanish publication SPORT, Inter Miami star Messi admitted he “doesn’t want to be a burden” on the Argentina side.
He said: “It’s special to play with the national team, especially in major official competitions, and even more so considering what a World Cup means, especially after having won it.
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“But as I was saying, I don’t want to be a burden, so to speak. I want to feel physically fit, to be sure I can help and contribute to the team.
“Our season is different from the European one.
“We’ll have a pre-season in between, with few matches leading up to the World Cup, and we’ll see how things go day by day to see if I really feel physically fit enough to be where I’d like to be and be able to participate.”
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni named Messi in his squad for this international break, but also confessed preparation is very much underway for life after the hero.
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He said: “The team is now in a moment where it can play in the same way with Leo or without Leo, which used to be more complex in the past as we had to change some players.”
Messi took a secret visit back to Barcelona on his way to Alicante for Argentina’s training camp, taking in the newly revamped Nou for the first time since its refurbishment.
Having guided the Catalan giants to a staggering TEN La Liga titles, he left in 2021 as a free agent, with financial woes forcing Barca’s hand.
Despite the bitter way his departure unfolded, Messi admitted he dreams of returning.
He said: “I really want to go back, that we miss Barcelona a lot, that the children continuously, and my wife, we talk about things about Barcelona, the idea of living there again.
“We have our house, everything, so that’s what we want.”
Messi continued: “I really miss all those moments at Barca. Maybe I enjoy it more now than at the time when things happened”.
“At that time it was playing game after game and thinking about the next game without being able to enjoy what we were doing.”
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