‘Let’s not talk about Lionel Messi not continuing!’ - Argentina want superstar captain to be ‘eternal’ as Exequiel Palacios avoids any talk of retirement date

There will come a day when the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has to hang up his boots, and the decision will probably be taken to walk away from the international arena before eventually bowing out at club level. Messi will turn 37 in June, meaning that he may not have too much longer left at the very highest level.

Messi has committed to representing his country at this summer’s Copa America, as they seek to defend that crown, and has hinted at staying on through to the 2026 World Cup. He already has record-setting hauls of 180 caps and 106 international goals to his name.

Palacios, who savoured World Cup glory alongside Messi at Qatar 2022, has told Reuters of life without the most talismanic of captains: “For now, let's not talk about Messi not continuing. You can never imagine the national team without Messi. We all want him to be eternal and always play with us.”

Bayer Leverkusen star Palacios added on another veteran performer, with Angel Di Maria set to remove himself from Argentina selection after the 2024 Copa America: “We don't want Di Maria to retire. He is a unique, different and historic player for the country. If he retires, we have to make the most of every training session, every camp and every game because we're privileged to have his quality.”

Argentina are set to open their quest for back-to-back continental crowns when facing Canada on June 20. Messi will be taking a break in MLS duties with Inter Miami in order to figure at that tournament, which will not require him to travel far as it is due to be staged in the United States.