Paris 2024 Olympics: Messi gives up participating in the Paris Games but does not close the door to the 2026 World Cup

2022 world champion, Lionel Messi will not go to the Olympics with Argentina. MAXPPP – ANTHONY_STANLEY/Avalon

The "Pulga" prefers to save money for the Copa America, where Argentina is the big favorite.

Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi confirmed in an interview with the American channel ESPN that he would not attempt to win a second gold medal with the Argentine football team at the Olympic Games. Paris this summer.

He will celebrate his 37th birthday on June 24

"I spoke with (Argentine Espoirs coach Javier) Mascherano, and we immediately agreed on the situation", he declared in this interview broadcast on Wednesday.

At my age, I don't want to play everything, and I have to make the right choices

"It’s a difficult moment, because there’s the Copa America, and that would take me two or three consecutive months away from my club (from Miami). At my age, I don't want to play everything, and I have to make the right choices", continued the former star of FC Barcelona and Paris SG.< /p>

Messi, who will celebrate his 37th birthday on June 24, is expected with defending champion Argentina as the big star of the Copa America, which will take place from June 20 to July 14 in United States, just a few weeks before the start of the Olympic Games (July 26-August 11).

The 2026 World Cup in the viewfinder

Lionel Messi was part of the Argentina team crowned Olympic champion in 2008. And although he will not be part of the Olympic celebration this year, he has not not closed the door to participation in the next World Cup, organized in 2026 between the United States, Canada and Mexico. He would then become the player having taken part in the greatest number of editions of the competition (6).

I won't participate in a World Cup just to say that I've done six

"It's great to have records and continue to achieve things, but I won't participate in a World Cup just to say that I made six", insisted Messi however.

"If I feel good and everything is in place for me to be there, great, but I won't go just to go". "But it’s very difficult to& rsquo;imagine what could happen, because it’s still two years away. I don’need to commit right now to say whether or not I’ll be there", he concluded.< /p>