Messi to miss Olympics but leaves door open for 2026 World Cup
The Peninsula
Miami: Eight time Ballon d Or winner LionelMessihas confirmed in an interview with US broadcaster ESPN that he will not attempt to win a second gold m...
Miami: Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi has confirmed in an interview with US broadcaster ESPN that he will not attempt to win a second gold medal with Argentina at the Paris Olympics this summer.
"I spoke with (Argentinian Olympic coach Javier) Mascherano, and we immediately agreed on the situation," Inter Miami forward Messi said in the interview broadcast on Wednesday.
"It's a difficult moment, because there's the Copa America, and that would mean two or three consecutive months away from my club.
"At my age, I don't want to play everything and I need to make the right choices," added the former Barcelona star who was a member of Argentina's 2008 Olympic gold medal winning team.
Messi, who turns 37 on June 24, will be with defending champions Argentina at the Copa America from June 20 to July 14 in the United States, just a few weeks before the Olympics start on July 26.