The Argentina team fell in the World Cup final 1-0 against Spain. Nicolás Otamendi retired from the national team after the bitter defeat. Leandro Paredes aired that Lionel Messi's fate could be the same.

They said it in their songs and slogans, the Argentina team had a common goal: for Lionel Messi to win his second World Cup. The Albiceleste was one game away from achieving it.

Leandro Paredes spoke after Argentina's elimination. The Boca Junior footballer hinted that Lionel Messi would have played his last game with the Albiceleste at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

"It hurts because we said it throughout the World Cup, we didn't want that (Messi's) last game to come. I think he had already made a decision that was also his last game (the final) in the national team," said the Argentine midfielder.

Lionel Messi has not yet announced his retirement from the South American team. But Leandro Paredes' statements indicate what his intentions could be. Paredes hopes that Messi can continue playing with Argentina.

“Hopefully he can continue playing, it will be his decision, what makes him happier, surely us too, so I hope (he stays),” he concluded.

Lionel Messi in the Argentina national team

In August 2005, Lionel Messi debuted with the Argentina national team under the technical direction of José Néstor Pekerman. Since then Messi has accumulated 207 games played with the Albiceleste shirt.

In just over 17,100 minutes played, Lionel Messi has been able to score 125 goals and 68 assists. Messi has won a total of 4 official titles with the Albiceleste: two editions of the Copa América (Brazil 2021 and United States 2024), the Finalissima (CONMEBOL-UEFA Champions Cup) in 2022 and the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022.

In youth categories Messi managed to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2005 and the Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.