Otamendi: 'I don't see Messi missing World Cup'

Benfica defender Nicolás Otamendi has said helium doesn't expect Argentina teammate Lionel Messi to miss the 2026 World Cup.

Messi was the astir invaluable subordinate astatine the past World Cup but has yet to corroborate if helium intends to play successful adjacent year's tournament.

"Obviously, arsenic the World Cup gets closer, helium volition marque his decision," Otamendi said of Messi to Radio La Red. "But I don't spot Leo [Messi] missing retired connected the World Cup."

Messi, who turned 38 connected Tuesday, is presently competing astatine the FIFA Club World Cup with Inter Miami. He volition look his erstwhile nine Paris Saint-Germain successful the circular of 16 connected Sunday.

Otamendi, who has played alongside Messi successful the nationalist squad since 2009, remains hopeful that the Argentina skipper volition diagnostic successful a sixth World Cup.

"Leo is Leo, the champion subordinate successful shot history," Otamendi said. "Right now, he's surviving successful the moment. He's enjoying the Club World Cup. Leo's absorption is connected continuing to compete, taking it period by period and seeing however helium feels.

"He volition marque his determination based connected however helium feels physically, but you volition ne'er instrumentality distant Leo's tendency to compete, to beryllium there, to assistance the team. It's successful his DNA. Leo is different," helium added.

The Argentine has scored 10 goals and provided six assists successful 13 league appearances for Inter Miami this play and was voted the MLS subordinate of the period successful May.

Messi's crowning glory for Argentina came astatine the 2022 World Cup successful Qatar, wherever La Albiceleste bounced backmost from a astonishment 2-1 nonaccomplishment to Saudi Arabia successful their opener to triumph the tournament.

The seasoned striker followed that triumph with different by starring Argentina to the 2024 Copa América. Argentina person already qualified for adjacent year's World Cup that volition beryllium held successful the United States, Canada and Mexico.