Lionel Messi may have already decided to retire from international soccer, according to Argentina teammate Leandro Paredes.
There has been plenty of speculation surrounding Messi's playing future, but the player himself has said very little about his plans after the World Cup.
Paredes offered a hint on Thursday, July 23 after a match with his club side Boca Juniors.
“It hurts because we said throughout the World Cup we didn’t want Leo’s last game to come. I think he had already decided that it would be his last game with the national team,” Paredes told DSports.
“Hopefully not – hopefully he can keep playing,” he added. “It’ll be his decision, and whatever he decides, if it makes him happy, it’ll make us happy too. So let’s hope so.”
Messi played
every game of Argentina's run to the World Cup final, which ended in a 1-0 defeat to Spain on Sunday, July 19.
It was a stellar tournament for Messi, who turned 39 earlier this month. The Argentina legend finished second in the Golden Boot race with eight goals, and also finished second in the Golden Ball voting for the tournament's top player.
Speaking ahead of the World Cup last week, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted he knew very little about Messi's post-World Cup plans.
"I don't know. What do I know? I have no idea. I don’t know. I don’t know what to tell you," Scaloni said at a press conference. "He never stops surprising."
Regardless of his international future, Messi is expected to continue playing in MLS with Inter Miami, where he has a contract through 2028.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Messi may have played last Argentina game, Paredes reveals
