Will Lionel Messi play at 2026 World Cup? ‘Game by game’ prediction from Argentina coach as Inter Miami superstar approaches 37th birthday

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner helped his country to claim a global crown at Qatar 2022, with his medal collection being completed in the process. There is now no questioning his standing alongside the likes of Pele and Diego Maradona on any list of all-time greats.

Questions have, however, been asked of whether Messi will help to defend that title, as he approaches his 37th birthday. The man himself initially ruled out another outing at FIFA’s flagship event, but has since backtracked on those comments to suggest that he has more major tournaments left in him.

The Argentina camp will be putting no pressure on their talismanic captain, with Ayala – who works alongside head coach Lionel Scaloni – telling TyC Sports when asked a familiar World Cup question: “I imagine it game by game. Then we'll see what happens in the Cup, how he is. In the end, the decision will come down exclusively to him, how he wants to continue. He enjoys it a lot, he's enjoying it a lot every time he comes.”

Ayala added on Messi’s mentality, which allows him to turn a deaf ear to any doubters: “In 2019 I met a very mature Messi. He shows himself as he is, he makes things easy. He wants to win at anything. He likes to compete and challenge. You are not going to be loved by everyone. I have seen an attitude in all this time that I cannot say is not good, on the contrary. He knows how to handle everything very well.”

Messi is expected to form part of Argentina’s Copa America squad this summer, as they also seek to defend that crown, and has already rewritten the history books several times over while earning 180 caps and scoring 106 goals for his country.