Cybereagles

Idowu said, ""It is our goal to make tomorrow's game, Messi's last game for Argentina"

I'm sure the Argentines are plotting to make this Mikel's last World Cup game.

I get the sense that Messi can come back in 4 years even though he retired earlier and came back.
Mikel would only do so as a coach or water carrier.

Mikel still has one more world cup left in him.

Injury permitting, he’ll be there but very different to now, will there be any pace life?

Coach wrote:Injury permitting, he’ll be there but very different to now, will there be any pace life?

Who Mikel or Messi?

Messi can still play in the WC, it is a question of if he wants to. Somehow I doubt Messi will want to play in the WC again....but who knows, these guys decide these things unpredictably.

But I have a feeling that Both Cristiano and Messi will retire from Club and International football before they are done. Realistically Messi could play at a high level for another 4-6 years. But will he want to?

Cristiano has also vocalized that he has plans besides football, but he has around 4 more very good years in him, but will he want to?

These guys are performing at such a high level that people forget that players are NOT supposed to be as consistent as they are. They will retire early, not because they need to, but to preserve their mystique, and also to try other endeavours.

but in terms of ability, heck Messi could even play in the 2026 WC. A guy of his ability to play at 39? Not really a stretch of the imagination. He simply will decide not to.

Tbite wrote:

Coach wrote:Injury permitting, he’ll be there but very different to now, will there be any pace life?

Who Mikel or Messi?

Messi can still play in the WC, it is a question of if he wants to. Somehow I doubt Messi will want to play in the WC again....but who knows, these guys decide these things unpredictably.

But I have a feeling that Both Cristiano and Messi will retire from Club and International football before they are done. Realistically Messi could play at a high level for another 4-6 years. But will he want to?

Cristiano has also vocalized that he has plans besides football, but he has around 4 more very good years in him, but will he want to?

These guys are performing at such a high level that people forget that players are NOT supposed to be as consistent as they are. They will retire early, not because they need to, but to preserve their mystique, and also to try other endeavours.

but in terms of ability, heck Messi could even play in the 2026 WC. A guy of his ability to play at 39? Not really a stretch of the imagination. He simply will decide not to.

I too believe that Messi can play in 2026 but he probably will not be interested.
However, I don't see Messi quitting club footie until his body literally quits on him. He loves the game so much that he would probably be lost without playing.

Mikel on the other hand has all signs indicating that this is his last WC so he had better captain the team to go as far as they can because this is his last rodeo.

cchinukw wrote:Mikel still has one more world cup left in him.

At 35? It’s not easy o.

I think this is the last World Cup for both Messi and Mikel. For multiple reasons, I think they will both retire before the next World Cup or so.

Argentina should not call Messi if he failed this world.I mean Argentina with Messi has won nothing,Sweden today is better without Ibra in the team.Look their WCQ group then look how they hold Germany but poor coaching letting them down.Messi should retired from Argentina or Argentina can disgrace him not call him even when available.Dybala and others can carry the team forward.
I mean this is Argentina not some backward country like Iran or Uganda in football.