Messi targets 2028 LA Olympics as swansong after ruling out World Cup 2030

Lionel Messi has identified the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as the perfect send-off for his international career, ruling out the 2030 World Cup as a realistic target given he would be 43 years old by the time it kicks off.

The Argentina captain, who turned 39 on Thursday, won Olympic gold with the Argentina U-23 side at the 2008 Beijing Games and believes a second gold medal in Los Angeles would be a fitting finale to a record-breaking international career spanning 201 caps and 122 goals.

Messi is currently focused on more immediate ambitions at the 2026 World Cup, where he has made a blistering start with five goals in his opening two group games. Argentina face Jordan in Dallas this weekend before a last-32 tie in Miami, Messi’s adopted home city, against opponents yet to be confirmed.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is the most decorated footballer of all time, having accumulated 46 team trophies including the 2022 World Cup and back-to-back Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024. A second World Cup triumph this summer would add further weight to that legacy.

Despite his extraordinary haul of honours, Messi has never won the World Cup Golden Boot. He is currently in contention alongside Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, with the race likely to run deep into the tournament.

Messi has insisted he plans to continue playing for as long as possible, and the 2028 Olympics — an age-restricted competition that typically fields U-23 squads with allowances for over-age players — represents a more attainable international milestone than a fourth World Cup campaign would.