Lionel Messi says he hasn’t yet thought about when he will retire
Age, they say, is just a number – an adage that appears to ring true for soccer star Lionel Messi.
In an interview with the Big Time Podcast released on Wednesday, the 36-year-old Messi revealed that he doesn’t see his advancing years as an important factor in determining when to end his career.
He also said that he hasn’t considered when he might call time on his playing days, during which he has won the World Cup with Argentina, 10 La Liga and four Champions League titles with Barcelona and eight Ballon d’Or awards.
“The truth is I haven’t thought about it yet,” said Messi, who turns 37 in June. “Today, I try to enjoy it day-by-day, enjoy every moment without thinking about it more than that.
“I don’t have anything clear yet but to keep playing, which is what I’d like to do for a while longer. When the moment arrives, surely I’ll find the path to whatever fills me with joy and I enjoy and it’ll be a new role.”
These days, it’s not unusual for athletes to continue their careers into their late 30s and beyond, with Messi’s long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo still playing and scoring goals aplenty for Portugal and Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr at the age of 39.