Lionel Messi has suggested he will retire from international football – again – if Argentina fail to win this summer’s World Cup in Russia.
The Barcelona forward has never won a major international trophy and has something of a difficult relationship with fans of the national team.
And he has claimed he is ready to “give up” on the national team if Argentina fail to win their first World Cup since 1986.
“We feel that, if we won’t win the World Cup in Russia, the only way will be to give up the national team,” Messi told La Cornisa.
“I dream of winning the trophy in Russia. My wish is to live something similar to Brazil 2014. You can do everything OK and fail, like Argentina in Brazil.”
Messi has walked away from the international team once before – in 2016 after Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile.
However he eventually reversed his decision and helped Argentina to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
FCNaija