Lionel Messi reveals he is NOT retiring from Argentina duty after guiding them to World Cup glory

Lionel Messi has revealed he has no plans to retire from the Argentina national team after ending their wait for a World Cup trophy on Sunday.

Messi scored twice during a thrilling clash which ended 3-3 after extra-time and scored his penalty as Argentina won 4-2 from the spot.

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was the hero of the penalty shootout as Messi added the biggest prize of them all to his collection. 

Many had thought that this would likely be the perfect time for Messi to walk away from the national team but he has now dismissed those suggestions.

‘No, I’m not going to retire from the national team,’ he told TyC Sports. ‘I want to keep playing as World Cup champions with Argentina shirt’.

Messi will be turning 36 in January and it looks likely that this could be his final year in a major league. He has been strongly linked with a move to Inter Miami at the end of the season. 

The Argentine will be 38 by the time the next World Cup comes about – which is held in the United States, Canada and Mexico – while the next Copa America is still two years away.

But for now, Messi can focus on celebrating getting his hands on the most iconic trophy in the game and the one title that had evaded him throughout his incredible career.

He scored an early penalty for Argentina against France and his team led 2-0 at halftime when Angel di Maria also hit the back of the net, rounding off a brilliant sweeping passing move.

But with 10 minutes left on the clock, France striker Kylian Mbappe turned the game on its head with two goals in two minutes, including one from the penalty spot himself.

That took the game to extra time and for a moment, it felt like momentum had slipped away from France. 

But Messi struck again, from close range, in the 108th minute but one final twist was still to come. Mbappe got his hat-trick after a handball in the France penalty area and the game went down to a shootout.

Messi and Mbappe scored their penalties but Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni missed for France.