Benfica defender Nicolás Otamendi has mentioned he does not anticipate Argentina teammate Lionel Messi to overlook the 2026 World Cup.
Messi was essentially the most precious participant on the final World Cup however has but to verify if he intends to play in subsequent 12 months’s match.
“Clearly, because the World Cup will get nearer, he’ll make his choice,” Otamendi mentioned of Messi to Radio La Purple. “However I do not see Leo [Messi] lacking out on the World Cup.”
Messi, who turned 38 on Tuesday, is at present competing on the FIFA Membership World Cup with Inter Miami. He’ll face his former membership Paris Saint-Germain within the spherical of 16 on Sunday.
Otamendi, who has performed alongside Messi within the nationwide group since 2009, stays hopeful that the Argentina captain will function in a sixth World Cup.
“Leo is Leo, the perfect participant in soccer historical past,” Otamendi mentioned. “Proper now, he is dwelling within the second. He is having fun with the Membership World Cup. Leo’s focus is on persevering with to compete, taking it month by month and seeing how he feels.
“He’ll make his choice based mostly on how he feels bodily, however you’ll by no means take away Leo’s need to compete, to be there, to assist the group. It is in his DNA. Leo is totally different,” he added.
The Argentine has scored 10 targets and supplied six assists in 13 league appearances for Inter Miami this season and was voted the MLS participant of the month in Could.
Messi’s crowning glory for Argentina got here on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the place La Albiceleste bounced again from a shock 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia of their opener to win the match.
The veteran striker adopted that triumph with one other by main Argentina to the 2024 Copa América. Argentina have already certified for subsequent 12 months’s World Cup that shall be held in the US, Canada and Mexico.