Messi lead Argentina to a 3-0 win over Croatia in their semi-final on Tuesday and will earn his 172nd cap at the weekend when he tries to bring the country its first World Cup title since 1986.
Messi told Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole,”I feel very happy, to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final.”
“It’s many years for the next one and I don’t think I’ll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it’s the best,” he added.
The 35-year-old is playing at his fifth World Cup, surpassing the four of Diego Maradona and Javier Mascherano.
Lionel Messi also broke Gabriel Batistuta’s record to become the highest goalscorer for Argentina in the history of the FIFA World Cup. This was Messi’s 11th goal.
The Argentina captain scored from the penalty kick to give his side a 1-0 lead against Croatia in the 34th minute in the first semi-final match at Lusail Stadium.
Messi has equalled Hungarian great Sandor Kocsis and German goal-machine Jurgen Klinsmann with 11 goals.
Only Pele (12), Just Fontaine (13), Gerd Muller (14), Brazil’s Ronaldo (15) and Germany’s Miroslav Klose (16) have scored more goals in FIFA World Cup than Messi.
This match was also his 25th World Cup match, the most for any Argentinian player alongside Lothar Matthaus.
“It’s all well and good (the records), but the important thing is to be able to achieve the group objective, which is the most beautiful thing of all,” Messi added.
“We’re just one step away, after fighting hard, and we’re going to give everything to try to make it happen this time.”
Tuesday’s victory prompted thousands of fans to take to the streets in Argentina to celebrate the national team’s sixth World Cup final appearance.
With inputs from agencies
