Lionel Messi has said he will not retire from international football after guiding Argentina to their third World Cup title on Sunday.
La Albiceleste defeated France 4-2 on penalty in a thrilling contest at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
“I won the Copa America and the World Cup in a short time,” Messi said. “I love what I do, being in the national team, and I want to continue living a few more games being world champion,”Messi told TyC.
“I am going to take the Cup to Argentina to enjoy it with you,” he added.
Messi said it was the realisation of a “childhood dream” to help Argentina win their first world title since Diego Maradona led them to victory in Mexico in 1986.
“It’s anyone’s childhood dream,” Messi said. “I was lucky to have achieved everything in this career … and this one that was missing is here.
“It’s madness … look how she [the World Cup] is, she’s gorgeous. I wanted her so much. I had a vision that this would be the one … she was getting closer.”