Despite being reigning world champions, Lionel Messi’s presence with Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains uncertain—even by the legend’s own admission. But Inter Miami teammate and close friend Luis Suarez has added new insight, sharing the desire Messi still holds to play in the next edition of the tournament.
Suarez, who officially retired from international duty with Uruguay in September 2024, is now enjoying the final chapter of his career in Major League Soccer alongside Messi. In an interview with Ovacion for El Pais, he was asked about their future plans—and while he denied any concrete retirement talks, he shed light on Messi’s long-term ambitions.
“No, we joke about it a lot, but he still has the desire to play in next year’s World Cup,” Suarez revealed. “Obviously, after being away from the national team, that feeling starts to fade more on my side than his, but we haven’t really talked about it. We’ve chatted that, down the line, when we’re older, we could make that decision, but nothing concrete,” he stated.
When asked whether Messi had confirmed his intention to play in 2026, Suárez was clear: “No, no, I don’t even ask him either. Some people don’t get it. Look, here’s an anecdote about the penalty the other day (against Los Angeles, in the 3–1 win in the Concachampions): a lot of people were celebrating, getting close to him—teammates, even—and I didn’t even look at him, didn’t make a gesture or anything because I already know him.
“Sometimes, being part of that moment makes me even more nervous, gives me more uncertainty. I already know how he is, and I don’t ask him about any of that. Time will tell,” he concluded. Beyond his words about the World Cup, Suarez also offered a glimpse into the bond he shares with Messi—one rooted in deep understanding and mutual respect.
Suarez’s future at Inter Miami
At 38 years old, and with his contract with Inter Miami set to expire at the end of 2025, Suarez continues to face questions about retirement. But the Uruguayan striker isn’t ready to set a timeline for hanging up his boots.
“It’s hard to talk about deadlines for an ending. I do know that footballers need to prepare for the end because we’re not prepared. It happened to me with the national team—you have to be well-prepared to face that final step,” Suarez admitted.
“Time will tell how much I have left, but I still have that flame of wanting to play, wanting to compete, and as long as that flame is lit, I’ll want to keep competing for as long as I can. I don’t have a set deadline whether it’s this year or next. But as long as I’m motivated, performing, and showing it, I’ll keep enjoying it,” he ended his response.
With 587 career goals, Suárez is just 13 away from reaching the 600-goal milestone and 34 goals away from breaking into the top 10 all-time leading scorers in soccer history. The veteran striker acknowledged how meaningful that achievement would be—and for now, the thought of retirement remains on hold.