Although he has not fixed retirement time the football fraternity is feeling Copa America 2024 might be his last tournament for Argentina as it might be difficult for him to participate in the 2026 World Cup. The team will start their campaign against Canada in the competition at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 

The emotion augmented when Scaloni, the Argentina coach smilingly asked the media in the conference on Thursday, “Enjoy Messi and Di Maria. They have nothing to prove, nothing more to gain even. They will enjoy the tournament and you also enjoy it." 

Argentina’s one of the all-time greats Lionel Messi also was seen in a jovial mood in the training before his first Group League match against USA on Friday early morning (according to Indian time). 

Messi said in March in an interview with Saudi broadcaster Riyad Season, "I don't think about that yet. The moment I feel that I am not going to help my team I will retire. I always ate well and trained. But as I grew I became aware that the physical effort we make is getting harder. As you grow old, things become more difficult."

Messi had struggled with muscular injuries last season and he has increasingly been seen spending a large chunk of his time with his family. 

He has also started new businesses and a general perception says that football has become a smaller part of his life now. He still netted 12 goals and 13 assists for Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS).

“I have a good time at the club. I am lucky to have teammates and friends (Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, all former Barcelona players) by my side,” Messi told ESPN. ”I have a good time in the national team, where I have teammates and friends, too. And I enjoy the little details that I know that when I don’t play anymore, I’m going to miss.”

Messi further mentioned that he will continue contributing as long as he feels fine doing it. His only point of focus currently is to do well in the Copa America at the moment, and he maintains that he still has dreams of standing on the podium with a Copa America trophy.