Argentina’s Lionel Messi holds the trophy for Best Player of the Copa America, a distinction shared with Brazil’s Neymar, after winning the Conmebol 2021 Copa America football tournament final match against Brazil at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 10, 2021. Argentina won 1-0. (AFP/Carl de Souza)
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rgentine football superstar Lionel Messi says he has not given any thought about retiring after next year's World Cup adding he would love to be Barcelona sporting director when he does finally hang up his boots.
The six-time Ballon D'Or winner will be 35 by the time the World Cup — a trophy that has eluded him through his stellar career — comes round in Qatar next year.
Messi is tied to French Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint Germain till June 2023 — with the option of an extra year — after leaving his beloved Barcelona in August.
He told Monday's edition of Catalan newspaper Sport retirement was not on his agenda.
"No, truthfully no," he said regarding hanging up his boots.
"After all that has happened to me, I just live day to day, year after year.
"I do not know what is going to happen at the World Cup or after it.