Lionel Messi has hinted he could miss next summer's World Cup, suggesting he may watch the tournament from the stands rather than defend Argentina's title on the pitch.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, who celebrates his 39th birthday in June, expressed his desire to compete whilst acknowledging he might not make the squad.
He said: "I hope I can be there. I've said before that I'd love to be there.
"At worst, I'll be there watching it live, but it will be special."
The Inter Miami forward emphasised he has no intention of hindering his national team.
He told ESPN ahead of Friday's draw in Washington: "I don't want to be a burden, so to speak."
Messi outlined his concerns about maintaining peak physical condition, pointing to the unique challenges posed by the MLS calendar.
With the American League season concluding imminently and not resuming until late February, the Argentine icon recognises that playing outside Europe's elite competitions could affect his readiness for the tournament.
Lionel Messi expressed his desire to compete whilst acknowledging he might not make the squad
| REUTERS"Our season is different from the European one," he explained to Spanish publication SPORT.
"We'll have a pre-season in between, with few matches leading up to the World Cup, and we'll see how things go day by day to see if I really feel physically fit enough to be where I'd like to be and be able to participate."
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has already begun preparing for the inevitable transition away from his talismanic captain.
The manager included Messi in his latest international squad but admitted the team has evolved significantly in recent years.
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The manager included Messi in his latest international squad but admitted the team has evolved significantly in recent years
| GETTYScaloni said: "The team is now in a moment where it can play in the same way with Leo or without Leo, which used to be more complex in the past as we had to change some players."
This acknowledgement marks a notable shift for a side that previously relied heavily on their record goalscorer, who has amassed 114 goals across 195 international appearances.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his own involvement, Messi spoke glowingly about Argentina's current setup and its prospects of defending their 2022 triumph in Qatar.
He said: "The truth is we have extraordinary players, and it's been shown for years - especially the desire and excitement since Scaloni took over."
Lionel Messi won the World Cup with Argentina back in 2022 | GETTYHe added: "It's a squad full of winners, with strong mindsets, who want to win more, and that's contagious."
The forward highlighted the fierce competitiveness within training sessions, noting that players give maximum effort regardless of the circumstances.
Messi added: "Argentina needs to take advantage of this moment."
"Coming off winning the World Cup gives you confidence and relief to prepare competitions differently."
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