""And I would like to be there. To feel well and to be an important part of helping my national team, if I am there. I am going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start preseason next year with Inter [Miami] and see if I can really be 100%. I'm really eager because it's the World Cup. We're coming off winning the last World Cup, and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular""
""I'm trying to feel good and, above all, being honest with myself. When I feel good, I enjoy it, but when I don't, honestly, I don't have a good time, so I prefer not to be there if I don't feel good," Messi said after a World Cup qualifying win over Venezuela in September. "So we'll see. I haven't made a decision about the World Cup. I'll finish the season, then I'll have preseason, and there will be six months left.""
Lionel Messi is considering participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup but has not made a final decision. He plans to play only if he is fully fit and can contribute importantly to Argentina. Messi intends to assess his condition day-to-day during Inter Miami preseason and wants to be 100 percent before committing. He prefers not to participate when not enjoying his performances or when not feeling well. Messi will finish the MLS season, undergo preseason in 2026, and decide with roughly six months remaining before the tournament. Defending the World Cup remains a key aspiration.
Read at ESPN.com
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