Argentina fans have been hoping against hope that Lionel Messi will make the 2026 World Cup squad. And after an interview the Argentine football megastar gave on Sunday, some are choosing to believe. 

“We’re working on the pre-season, with just a few training sessions. That helps us improve under the new coach and keep getting better,” Messi told Argentine news outlet TN. The Inter Miami star had just scored against Mexican football giants America in the Herons pre-season debut.

In November, Liverpool star Javier Mascherano took over as head coach, replacing Gerardo Martino.

Could fans hold out hope, his interviewer asked? 

“I’m just starting the year, but I’m hopeful and looking forward to it,” the Qatar 2022-winner said about making it to the 2026 World Cup. “I hope I’ll feel good, that’s the most important thing. Get going with a good pre-season, get the minutes in to arrive in the best possible shape when the official matches come.”

Messi also highlighted the heavy match load in the season ahead for the Herons. That will include playing in the FIFA Club World Cup, which is back this year with a comprehensive overhaul that leaves it resembling a new tournament.

“We have a tough group, so we’re going to have to fight for it,” he said. Inter is part of group A, alongside Egypt’s Al-Ahly, Portugal’s Porto and Brazil’s Palmeiras.

A controversial celebration

Messi’s first match of 2025 wasn’t without its share of controversy. After scoring the temporary 1-1, Messi made a series of gestures indicating he dedicated the goal to the América fans, who had been booing him since the start of the match.

Looking at the Mexican fans, Messi pointed at himself, held up three fingers, then pointed to the supporters and made a pinched fingers gesture, a reference to the World Cups won by the Argentine national football team compared with its Mexican counterpart.

It’s not Messi’s first rendezvous with the Mexican crowd. In Qatar 2022, many Tricolor fans mocked the then-Paris Saint German star after Argentina’s disappointing 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in its debut. At the time, Messi chose not to add fuel to the fire when he scored the opener in the Albiceleste’s clash against Mexico, caution that has now gone out the window.

Former international midfielder with Mexico Adolfo Bautista, criticized Messi, uploading a photo of him running with the ball and the Argentine down on the ground, during the clash between the two national teams in the 2010 World Cup.

“I admired you as a player, but messing with my country speaks of your low professionalism and manners,” he wrote.

Argentina won the game depicted in the photo 3-1.