Barcelona legend Lionel Messi speaks out on retirement plans | OneFootball

Barcelona icon Lionel Messi has this week provided a fresh insight into his mindset when it comes to the potential end of his career.

Messi, for his part, is fresh off rolling back the years, courtesy of nothing short of a remarkable performance on the international stage in the early hours of Wednesday.

En route to an eventual 6-0 drubbing of Bolivia, the Argentine directly contributed to all but one of his country’s goals, courtesy of a hat-trick, and two assists.

Speaking to the media on the back of the full-time whistle at the Estadio Mâs Monumental, attentions, in turn, did not take long in shifting towards Messi’s plans for the future.

Now 37 years of age, it is unclear just how long the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has left at the top level of the game.

Drawn on as much on Wednesday, Messi was therefore keen to reiterate that he simply intends to prolong his playing days for as long as he continues to ‘feel good’ in the colours of Argentina:

“It’s really nice to come here, to feel the affection of the people, it moves me how they shout my name. I haven’t set any date or deadline regarding my future, I just want to enjoy all of this. It moves me more than ever to be here and feel the love of the people because I know these could be my last matches. This drives me. Enjoying being happy where I am. Despite my age, when I’m here, I feel like a kid because I’m comfortable with this team. As long as I feel good and can keep performing the way I want, we’ll keep enjoying it.”

Conor Laird – GSFN