Lionel Messi Retirement: Legendary Footballer Confirms FIFA World Cup Final Will Be His Last Game For Argentina- Reports

Lionel Messi has reported confirmed his retirement after the FIFA World Cup 2022 final.

Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates after defeating Croatia 3-0 in the Qatar 2022 World Cup football semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 13, 2022. ( Image Source :JUAN MABROMATA / AFP )

In what comes as a massive development in the sporting arena, legendary footballer Argentine Lionel Messi has reportedly confirmed that the FIFA World Cup 2022 final will be his last game for Argentina. Local media reports from Argentina have carried this report. Notably, the Argentina captain converted a penalty to put Argentina ahead before a superb assist that was the final nail in the coffin as Croatia were knocked out of the tournament but Messi's World Cup dream continued.

"I feel very happy to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final," Messi has reportedly told Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole.

"It's many years for the next one and I don't think I'll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it's the best," he added.

Post Argentina's entry into the final was confirmed, Messi told his teammates to cherish and enjoy the "spectacular" occasion. 

"Argentina are, once again, in the World Cup final. Enjoy it!" said Messi after the game.

"We've been through tough situations, other very good ones. Today we're experiencing something spectacular," he stated.

Julian Alvarez scored a brace for Argentina

Other than Messi, it was Julian Alvarez who found his name on the scoresheet as he netted a match-winning brace. While he was in with a chance to convert it into a historic hat-trick in a World Cup semifinal, the first one to do so after Pele, he was subbed off the manager but not before he had sealed the deal for the Albicelestes.

Notably, it hasn't been the perfect campaign for Argentina and they have had their moments of doubt especially after the manner in which they were outplayed by the second-lowest ranked team in FIFA World Cup 2022- Saudi Arabia- in their opening match.

However, after that Lionel Scaloni and his men have bounced back in fine fashion, sustaining an unbeaten run that has seen them enter the finals of the competition for the sixth time and give their talismanic forward Messi a chance to lift perhaps the only major trophy that is missing from his cabinet.