Luis Suarez has opened up about his longtime teammate Lionel Messi’s ambitions for the 2026 World Cup, revealing that the star forward still has the drive to represent Argentina on football’s biggest stage.
In an exclusive interview with Ovacion, Suarez was asked whether he and Messi talk about retirement. The two have often joked about the subject, but Suarez believes Messi is not yet ready to step away from the international scene, especially with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon.
Messi recently missed Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Uruguay due to an abdominal injury, sparking speculation about his international future. However, Suarez feels that despite his fitness concerns, Messi still has the desire to play for La Albiceleste in their global title defense next year.
When asked about discussions on retirement, Suarez, who stepped down from international duty with Uruguay last year, said: “No, yes, we often talk jokingly, but he also has that desire to play in next year’s World Cup. Obviously, after being away from the national team for a bit, that’s becoming less of a problem for me than for him, but we haven’t talked about it yet.”
As the two approach the semi-finals of the Concacaf Champions Cup, where Inter Miami will face off against the Vancouver Whitecaps, it’s clear that Messi’s focus remains on maintaining his competitive edge for both club and country. Suarez also hinted that they have yet to have a serious discussion about retirement, instead keeping it lighthearted for now.
