According to Luis Suárez, Lionel Messi will defend the world title with Argentina at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The Uruguayan says that his close friend and Inter Miami teammate is not thinking about retirement yet.
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Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi were both in action on Sunday evening for Inter Miami, but despite their experience and star power, they couldn’t find a way past a disciplined Chicago Fire defense.
The match ended in a 0-0 draw, a result that left fans at Soldier Field without goals and Inter Miami with just a single point to take home. For a team built around some of the biggest names in world football, the performance highlighted that there’s still plenty of work to be done if the club wants to dominate the MLS this season.
The match itself was a cagey affair, with few clear chances and a physical edge that often disrupted Miami’s rhythm. Both Messi and Suárez showed flashes of their brilliance Messi dropping deep to dictate play, Suárez working tirelessly up front but the breakthrough never came. Despite the attacking talent on the pitch, Miami lacked sharpness in the final third and struggled to break down a well-organized Chicago defense.
Still, what made headlines after the game wasn’t just the result, but what Luis Suárez had to say about Messi particularly regarding his long-term future in the sport. With Messi having already achieved nearly everything imaginable in football, speculation continues to swirl about when the legendary forward might hang up his boots. According to Suárez, though, those discussions are premature.
In an interview with Ovación, the Uruguayan was quick to dismiss any notion that Messi is nearing retirement. “Retirement? Leo is determined to play for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup,” Suárez said. The two players, now reunited in Miami after years of friendship and success together at Barcelona, continue to push each other both on and off the pitch.
Messi, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, has already helped his country secure qualification for the next edition of the tournament, which will take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Now, with the possibility of ending his international career on American soil perhaps even in the very country where he now plays his club football Messi remains as motivated as ever.
“Messi and I have joked about retirement before,” Suárez continued. “But right now, he’s mainly looking forward to next year. He’s focused, he’s hungry, and he’s enjoying the game.”
Suárez knows a thing or two about the difficulty of letting go. The former star of Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid officially retired from international football in September 2023, bringing an end to a storied career with Uruguay. But even at 38, he’s not ready to stop playing at the club level and neither is Messi.
“It’s very hard to set a real deadline, to say when it’s time to stop,” Suárez explained. “Every player has to prepare mentally for that moment, but Leo isn’t there yet. He’s still training with intensity, he’s still competing at the highest level, and he still loves the game.”
Suárez himself remains fully committed to Inter Miami, and he’s already had an impact both on the pitch and in the locker room. With a contract running through December 2025, he hasn’t ruled out extending his time in Florida even further. “As long as I’m still fit and feeling good, I want to keep playing,” he said. “But the season has just begun let’s take it one step at a time.”
The draw against Chicago Fire wasn’t the result Inter Miami had in mind, especially with the level of expectation that surrounds the club. But even without a win, the presence of players like Messi and Suárez brings hope to fans and credibility to the league. And beyond the goals and assists, their mentality and passion continue to inspire those around them.
For now, both players remain focused on the present on improving Inter Miami’s performances, on staying sharp, and on building towards something bigger. And if Suárez’s words are any indication, fans of Argentina can breathe a sigh of relief: Lionel Messi isn’t finished yet. The dream of seeing him one last time on the World Cup stage in 2026 this time perhaps in front of American crowds is very much alive.
