Football legend, Lionel Messi has stated that he would retire from international football after the final of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 on Sunday, December 18.

Messi helped Argentina qualify for the final with a convincing 3-0 victory over Croatia in Tuesday’s semi-final after he started the scoring and supplied an assist for the two-goal hero, Julian Alvarez to earn Argentina a World Cup final berth since 2014.

Speaking to Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole, after the match, Messi said: “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,” added the Argentina captain.

Argentina have not won the World Cup since Diego Maradona guided the squad to success in 1986.

Messi came close in 2014 but lost to Germany in extra time. Now, Argentina is once again in the final of the competition after eight years.

Messi is competing at his fifth World Cup, surpassing the four of Diego Maradona and Javier Mascherano.

With his fifth goal in Qatar, he overtook Gabriel Batistuta as the best Albiceleste scorer in World Cups, netting 11 times.

Argentina will meet either France or Morocco in the World Cup final on Sunday.