Lionel Messi has no plans to imminently retire from international football because he wants to “continue playing as a champion”.

Messi will be 38 by the time the next World Cup starts in 2026, and will turn 39 during the tournament.

“I’m not retiring from the national team,” he said after the match. “I want to continue playing as a champion.”

Messi had previously said that he expects the Qatar World Cup to be his last.

“It’s my last World Cup,” he said after the semi-final victory over Croatia.

“It is impressive to end up playing a final. There’s a long way to go for the next one, there are many years and surely because of age I won’t get to it.”