{"id":36850,"date":"2026-08-07T02:01:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T02:01:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seduiremedia.com\/sports\/international-football\/lionel-messis-argentina-future-cast-into-doubt-by-afa-president-amid-2028-copa-america-hopes-its-his-decision\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T02:01:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T02:01:28","slug":"lionel-messis-argentina-future-cast-into-doubt-by-afa-president-amid-2028-copa-america-hopes-its-his-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ambassadornews.org\/en\/lionel-messis-argentina-future-cast-into-doubt-by-afa-president-amid-2028-copa-america-hopes-its-his-decision\/","title":{"rendered":"Lionel Messi’s Argentina future cast into doubt by AFA president amid 2028 Copa America hopes: ‘It’s his decision’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Lionel Messi<\/strong><\/a> once again served as Argentina<\/strong>\u2018s undisputed leader on soccer\u2019s biggest stage during the 2026 World Cup<\/strong>, but questions surrounding his future involvement with the national team remain unresolved. With the 2028 Copa Am\u00e9rica looming as the next major international tournament, Argentina<\/strong><\/a> Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia<\/strong> left the decision entirely up to the star forward, stating, \u201cIt\u2019s his decision<\/strong><\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

In an interview with TyC Sports<\/em>, Tapia was asked about Messi\u2019s future with the Albiceleste following another memorable World Cup run, delivering a candid response: \u201cIt is purely and personal to him<\/strong>, we have to leave him in peace. It was a great World Cup by Leo, we enjoyed it a lot. We have to feel proud, and I enjoyed every moment I could because I saw him on the pitch. Without a doubt, he was the flag bearer of the group in this World Cup<\/strong>, just as he was in every competition where he led this group<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tapia went on to highlight Messi\u2019s extraordinary track record since Lionel Scaloni assumed control of the bench. \u201cOut of 5 finals, he won 4, and out of 103 matches, 76 won, 19 drawn, 8 lost. If you count from World Cup to World Cup, from 2022 to 2026, we lost two matches: the first one in Qatar against Saudi Arabia, and the last one against Spain. If you sit down and analyze the World Cup he had, for me, the best player in the World Cup final was him<\/strong>. And he was breaking records match after match,<\/em>\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Since Scaloni\u2019s managerial debut against Guatemala in 2018, Argentina has netted 190 total goals, with Messi directly involved in 79 of them, racking up 60 goals and 26 assists<\/strong> to remain the focal point of this golden era. Lautaro Martinez trails him with 40 goals, while Julian Alvarez sits third with 15, emphasizing how vital the Inter Miami superstar remains to his country.<\/p>\n

\"AFA<\/p>\n

AFA president Claudio Tapia hugs Lionel Messi after losing to Spain in the 2026 World Cup Final. (Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Looking ahead, the team\u2019s primary focus shifts toward the 2028 Copa America<\/strong>, the next major competition on Argentina\u2019s calendar. While Messi will still be under contract with Inter Miami through December of that year<\/strong>, the fact that he will turn 41 during the tournament casts uncertainty over his participation, let alone his availability for the 2030 World Cup.<\/p>\n

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\"Lionel<\/p>\n
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see also<\/p>\n

Lionel Messi reportedly set for Argentina homecoming during upcoming XL international break after 2026 World Cup final<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cIt is his decision, pure and exclusive to him. He has to feel the desire like he felt <\/em>(before)\u2026 In 2022, you didn\u2019t know if he was going to be here in 2026. He said \u2018this is match by match,\u2019 and I think we saw a great version, if not the best version of Leo in this World Cup<\/strong>. I believe we have to leave him in peace, let him keep enjoying what he likes, which is playing football, and let us also keep enjoying, and let him make the decision he believes is right<\/em>,\u201d Tapia concluded.<\/p>\n

Comparing Messi\u2019s timeline to Di Maria\u2019s send-off<\/h2>\n

Angel Di Maria established himself as arguably the second most influential player of the Scaloni era<\/strong>, delivering iconic goals in major finals before closing out his international career after the 2024 Copa America. While Messi has yet to announce a final decision, Tapia emphasized that the captain will evaluate his own physical state rather than rushing into retirement.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the fitness of Di Maria, who currently plays for Rosario Central, Tapia noted. \u201cFideo scored important goals, and I saw him play in the local tournament, and <\/em>he was easily fit to play <\/em>(in the World Cup)<\/strong>. I don\u2019t get into the decisions of the coaching staff, but he also made clear that he was retired from the national team. So one has to be respectful of everything. He felt he was fulfilled<\/strong>.<\/em>\u201c<\/p>\n

When asked whether Messi still possesses that unquenchable drive to keep competing for Argentina, Tapia referenced a shared moment between the two. \u201cI was talking with him about that in a series, about never giving up<\/strong>\u2014he said it in a mixed zone. But it depends on him; here, the doors are always open<\/em>,\u201d Tapia added, referencing Messi\u2019s admiration for the Rafael Nadal documentary series<\/strong>, a personality the captain noted he deeply identifies with.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n