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Lionel Messi pledges future to Argentina after spellbinding World Cup win over France – ‘I want to continue’
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Published 18/12/2022 at 21:57 GMT
Lionel Messi says he has no plans to retire from international football and "wants to continue as a champion" after leading Argentina to World Cup glory. The 35-year-old scored twice in a thrilling 3-3 draw against France, and again in the shoot-out as Argentina won their first world title since 1986 on penalties. But Messi has no plans on stepping aside despite his advancing years.
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Lionel Messi batted away the suggestion that he might retire from Argentina duty after claiming a first World Cup title in thrilling fashion, saying he wants to "continue as a champion".
Messi scored twice, and again in the decisive penalty shoot-out, as the World Cup in Qatar was decided on penalties following a 3-3 draw after extra-time.
The 35-year-old won the Golden Ball awarded to the player of the tournament after scoring seven goals for his country to help them become world champions for the first time since 1986, and the third time overall.
“I’m not retiring from the national team. I want to continue playing as a champion,” Messi told TyC Sports afterwards.
Messi was under pressure to deliver his country’s World Cup for the first time since the Diego Maradona-inspired side of 1986, and this was his last chance in his fifth appearance at the tournament.
"It's crazy that it happened this way. I wanted it very much,” Messi added.
“I knew that God was going to give it to me, I had a feeling that it was going to be this way. Now to enjoy it.”
He continued: “Look what this cup is, it's beautiful. We suffered a lot, but we made it. We can't wait to be in Argentina to see how crazy it's going to be."
Argentina did it the hard way, throwing away a 2-0 half-time lead to concede twice in the second half and force extra-time, before again surrendering the advantage to take the game to a shoot-out.
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Leo Messi portato in trionfo dai tifosi e dal Kun Aguero festeggia con la Coppa del Mondo, Getty Images
Image credit: Getty Images
But goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved Kingsley Coman’s effort before Aurelien Tchouameni missed, and Argentina stayed calm to convert all four of their penalties and take the win.
“It was a game where we suffered,” said Martinez.
“Two crappy shots and they levelled. They give them another penalty, they scored. Thank God later I did my thing, what I dreamed of.
“There could not have been a World Cup that I have dreamed of like this. I was calm during the penalties.”
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