Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has disclosed that he will not attempt to win a second gold medal with Argentina at the Paris Olympics this summer.
The 36-year-old said his body can’t carry all the competitions.
In an interview with ESPN, Messi, who turns 37 on June 24, will be with defending champions Argentina at the Copa America from June 20 to July 14 in the United States, just a few weeks before the Olympics start on July 26.
He said: “I spoke with (Argentinian Olympic coach Javier) Mascherano, and we immediately agreed on the situation.
“It’s a difficult moment because there’s the Copa America, and that would mean two or three consecutive months away from my club.
“At my age, I don’t want to play everything, and I need to make the right choices.”
Persecondnews reports that Messi has not closed the door on taking part in a record-breaking sixth World Cup, to be held in 2026 between the US, Canada and Mexico.
He added: “It’s great to have records and continue to achieve things, but I won’t take part in a World Cup just to say I’ve done six.
“If I feel good and everything is in place for me to be there, fine, but I won’t go just to go.
“It’s very difficult to imagine what can happen because it’s still two years away. I don’t need to commit right now to whether or not I’ll be there.”
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