Former Real Madrid striker Ronaldo Nazário has expressed confidence that Lionel Messi will perform "very well" for Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite the football icon approaching his 39th birthday by then.
Ronaldo made these remarks while analyzing Messi's recent performances at the Club World Cup, where the Argentine led Inter Miami to the last-16 stage before they were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in a 4-0 defeat.
Speaking with DSports, the Brazilian legend insisted that the 38-year-old Messi still has significant contributions to make to football.
"I've been watching Leo [Lionel Messi] in the Club World Cup matches and he still has things to offer," Ronaldo stated. "He always reads the game well. If he loses the ball, he tries to win it back."
The former striker, who himself was a World Cup winner with Brazil, added: "I see Messi doing very well, and I believe Messi will be in good shape for the 2026 World Cup."
This prediction comes at an interesting time in Messi's career, as the 2026 World Cup would see him competing at the age of 39, potentially making it his final major international tournament. The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Messi, who finally secured World Cup glory with Argentina in Qatar 2022, has continued to perform at a high level for Inter Miami in the MLS, suggesting that Ronaldo's assessment of his longevity might be accurate.
Football fans around the world will be watching closely to see if the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner can maintain his form and fitness to represent his country on the global stage one more time.
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