Messi announces retirement; 2022 is his last World Cup

The Argentina captain confirmed that he will retire after the FIFA World Cup 2022 final on December 18.

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"It's many years for the next one and I don't think I'll be able to do it," Lionel Messi said.

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He added "and to finish like this, it's the best."

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Messi is competing in his fifth World Cup, surpassing Javier Mascherano and Diego Maradona's four.

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With his fifth goal in Qatar, he also surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as the top Albiceleste scorer at World Cups.

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