Messi says Qatar 2022 will be his last World Cup

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has confirmed Qatar 2022 will be his last World Cup.

The mercurial Paris Saint-Germain forward will attempt to lift the trophy for the first time after helping his country win the Copa America last year.

Messi, 35, says he will not play in another World Cup following the showpiece in Qatar, which starts on November 20.

He told Star+: “This is my last World Cup, surely, yes.”

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner does not believe Argentina go into the tournament as the favourites to be crowned champions.

He added: “I don’t know if we are the great favourites, but Argentina itself is always a candidate because of our history, because of what it means, and more so how we qualified.

“But we are not the top favourites. I think there are other teams that are above us today, but we are there very close.

“We’re in a good moment because of how things turned out and with a very strong group. Afterwards, in a World Cup anything can happen, it’s very difficult. The favourites are not always the ones who end up winning.

“I see similar things from the group with the one from 2014. We can’t wait to get together.”

The 2014 World Cup was the closest Messi has come to winning the tournament, with Argentina beaten by Germany in the final.

Messi feels sharp and raring to go for his last appearance on the biggest stage.

He said: “I feel good physically, I was able to do a very good pre-season this year that I hadn’t been able to do the previous year, because of how [the move to PSG] happened. I started playing late, with the season already started, without rhythm.

“Then I went to the national team, when I came back I had an injury in the middle [of the season]… This year’s pre-season was essential to start in a different way. And how I got to this year too, with a different head, with a different mentality and with great enthusiasm.”

Messi made his World Cup debut in Germany back in 2006 and has also featured in the past three editions of the tournament.

Argentina will start their quest to be crowned champions with a Group C clash against Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on November 22 before facing Mexico and Poland.