• Lionel Messi announced retirement from international football, says FIFA World Cup final will be his last game

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    Lionel Messi announced retirement from international football, says FIFA World Cup final will be his last game
    After Argentina's victory, Messi confirmed his retirement plans to Argentine media source Diario Deportivo Ole, indicating that Sunday's summit clash will be his final game for the South American giants.

    Digital Desk: Lionel Messi, the football legend, has confirmed that the final match of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar on Sunday (December 18) will be his final game for his country.

    This year, the 35-year-old is the competition's leading goal scorer and assist giver, having helped Argentina reach the final of the present tournament by defeating Croatia in the first semifinal on Tuesday. He scored the opening goal for his squad against Croatia and then assisted on Julian Alvarez's third goal.

    After Argentina's victory, Messi confirmed his retirement plans to Argentine media source Diario Deportivo Ole, indicating that Sunday's summit clash will be his final game for the South American giants.

    "I am overjoyed to be able to end my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final."

    "The next one is many years away, and I doubt I'll be able to complete it. And to end on such a high note, it's the greatest "Messi stated.

    With his fifth goal in Qatar, he surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as the Albiceleste's all-time World Cup goal scorer, with 11 goals.

    The PSG forward put on a show for a sold-out crowd at Qatar's Lusail Stadium that many hailed as his best in recent memory. This will be Messi's final World Cup appearance before retiring. In 2014, he finished second after losing to Germany in Brazil.

    Argentina will face either 2018 champions France or Morocco in the final.