Football icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic has delivered an emotional message to Lionel Messi following Argentina’s heartbreaking defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, urging the legendary captain not to retire from international football just yet.
Argentina’s dream of lifting another World Cup trophy came to an end after Spain secured a narrow 1-0 victory in New Jersey. Barcelona forward Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time, leaving Messi and his teammates devastated as Spain celebrated becoming world champions.
Despite the painful defeat, Ibrahimovic believes football fans across the world still need Messi and hopes the Argentine legend will continue representing his country for as long as possible.
Speaking during an interview with Fox Sports, the former Sweden international admitted that no one knows whether Messi will feature at another World Cup but stressed that the football world would be saddened if the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner decides to hang up his boots.
“I hope he can continue to play as much as possible, so we can enjoy him even more,” Ibrahimovic said.
Reflecting on Messi’s extraordinary career, Zlatan added that supporters have been privileged to witness one of football’s greatest players and warned that the sport would lose something special whenever the Argentine eventually retires.
“Will we see him in another World Cup? I don’t know, you never know. But we have enjoyed him, and we are happy that he plays the game because we are going to be very sad when he stops playing,” he added.
The heartfelt comments have sparked emotional reactions from football fans worldwide, many of whom are also hoping Messi delays retirement despite the disappointment of missing out on another World Cup title.
Messi, who has enjoyed one of the greatest careers in football history, remains one of the sport’s biggest global icons. Although questions about his international future continue to grow following the final, neither the Argentine captain nor the national team has made any official announcement regarding his retirement plans.
For now, millions of fans around the world are hoping the legendary playmaker has at least one more chapter left to write in the famous blue-and-white jersey.
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