After a stunning begin to his profession in Major League Soccer, Lionel Messi returns to worldwide obligation with Argentina this week as South America’s lengthy qualifying highway to the 2026 World Cup kicks off on Thursday. Nine months in the past, Messi topped his glittering profession by main Argentina to a World Cup crown in Qatar cementing his standing as the best participant of his technology. Since that magical evening in Doha, the diminutive 36-year-old celebrity’s life has gone by way of a interval of upheaval.

After an acrimonious finish to his profession with Paris Saint-Germain, Messi was courted by Saudi Arabia earlier than finally deciding to forge a brand new chapter of his profession with Inter Miami.

That transfer has confirmed to be an impressed determination, with Messi and his household settling in Florida seamlessly whereas having fun with success on the sector, main Inter to their first silverware and into the US Open Cup closing.

Inter coach Gerard “Tata” Martino, the previous Argentina and Barcelona participant, says Messi has been “liberated” by lastly main Argentina to the World Cup final yr after a number of agonising main championship near-misses.

But the query hanging within the air as South America’s qualifying marketing campaign will get underneath approach this week, is whether or not Messi will probably be round when Argentina intention to defend their title in 2026, when the match is co-hosted within the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Messi appeared to pour chilly water on that prospect in feedback made in June, saying he didn’t count on to play within the 2026 finals.

However he later admitted in an interview in July he had no clear thought of when he plans to name time on his worldwide profession.

“Even I don’t know when. It’ll happen when it happens,” Messi advised Argentine media.

“After winning everything I want to enjoy the moment and wait for time to tell me when it’s the moment.

“Logically, given my age, one would count on it to be quickly, however I do not know for certain.”

– ‘Door always open’ –
Argentina’s World Cup-winning manager Lionel Scaloni is certainly in no mood to force the issue.

Scaloni is on record as saying that a place in the 2026 squad will be Messi’s for the asking if he chooses.

“I feel Messi can get to the subsequent World Cup,” Scaloni said in January.

“It will rely rather a lot on what he needs, on whether or not he feels good.

“The door will always be open. He is happy on the pitch and it would be very nice for us.”

While the questions might proceed to swirl round Messi’s future in future, there may be much less uncertainty about Argentina’s prospects for qualification for the World Cup.

The expanded 48-team finals in 2026 imply that six of the ten groups competing in South American qualifying, which will probably be accomplished in September 2025, will qualify robotically for the finals. The seventh place workforce will advance to a playoff.

Given Argentina’s energy, it might take an upset of mammoth proportions for them to fail to qualify robotically for 2026.

Messi and Argentina’s qualifying journey will get underneath approach with a house fixture in opposition to Ecuador on the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Thursday, earlier than the workforce face Bolivia in La Paz subsequent Tuesday.

Other video games on Thursday see Paraguay tackle Peru, whereas Colombia host Venezuela.

Friday sees two extra fixtures, with Uruguay enjoying Chile in Montevideo whereas five-time World Cup winners Brazil make their entrance in opposition to Bolivia in Belem.

Brazil enter qualifying in a state of flux, with a brand new supervisor in Fernando Diniz, who took over from predecessor Tite within the wake of the Selecao’s World Cup quarter-final exit to Croatia final yr.

Whether Diniz will probably be in cost when Brazil arrive on the finals although is anybody’s guess, with the South Americans lengthy believed to be concentrating on Real Madrid supervisor Carlo Ancelotti to guide the workforce to the finals.

Brazil’s preparations for qualifying have additionally been disrupted by controversy round Manchester United winger Antony, who was dropped from the squad this week after revelations of assault made by an ex-girlfriend.

Antony, who denies the claims, has been changed by Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus.

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