Lionel Messi will play at 2026 World Cup if Argentina retain the Copa America, insists Nicolas Tagliafico

Messi finally added the one piece of silverware that had been missing from his CV when Argentina beat France in the 2022 World Cup final. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner earned the player of the tournament award after recording ten goal contributions in seven appearances, with many fans and pundits claiming he "completed football" following a historic triumph in Qatar.

Messi insisted he had no plans to feature for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup after joining MLS outfit Inter Miami in June, but has since relaxed his stance. He recently told Migue Granados when quizzed on whether he could still appear at the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States: “I don't know if I will reach it. I said that before. I'm not thinking about it yet because it's far away, but I'm thinking about Copa America. The goal is to arrive in good shape for Copa America in the United States. It's going to be great. It will be looked into depending on how I feel at the time.”

The 2024 Copa America will kick off in the U.S. on June 20, with Argentina set to defend the crown they won in Brazil two years ago. Argentina full-back Tagliafico believes success at that tournament will convince Messi to target one final World Cup appearance, as he told La Nacion: " "Do you know what the key is for Messi to play in the 2026 World Cup? Win Copa America next year. If we would not have won the World Cup in Qatar, he would have left. But he won it and he wants to enjoy these months. But if we go to the United States and win the Copa America, he will want to continue."

Argentina are already well on their way to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, having won all four of their opening CONMEBOL qualifying games. Messi is set to return to the team for their next set of fixtures against Uruguay and Brazil in the coming days, on the back of completing his first season in MLS.

After the international break, which Messi will hope brings maximum points for Argentina, he will return to America for some well-earned time-off. Inter Miami are not set to return to action until February, with a pre-season friendly pencilled in against Messi's boyhood club Newell's Old Boys.