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DON'T MISS A MOMENT OF THE WORLD CUP

Roberto Carlos predicts Lionel Messi could continue for Argentina until the 2030 World Cup and shares his thoughts on Neymar’s comeback to the Brazil national side.

Real Madrid icon Roberto Carlos has expressed his belief that Lionel Messi can comfortably feature in another World Cup beyond the 2026 edition. Ahead of the global tournament, the legendary left-back also discussed Neymar’s importance under Carlo Ancelotti as the Brazilian forward strives to regain full fitness for the national team following a string of injury issues.

Carlos praises the South American great

In a conversation with the Argentinian daily Ole, Carlos made a striking prediction about Messi’s international career. The former Brazil defender voiced his deep respect for the Inter Miami star, as South America gears up for the much-anticipated competition.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner led Argentina to a historic triumph at Qatar 2022 and is now aiming to repeat that success. The evergreen maestro, who has netted 117 goals in 199 appearances for Argentina, continues to perform at an exceptional level, with 13 goals and seven assists in 16 matches this season. Carlos emphasised that Messi perfectly represents the passion and technical artistry of Latin American football on the world stage.

Real Madrid legend foresees remarkable longevity

The former Brazil international insisted that the upcoming tournament doesn’t necessarily mark the end of Messi’s World Cup journey. Highlighting the forward’s professionalism and disciplined training routine, Carlos suggested that featuring in the 2030 tournament is well within reach for the Argentine captain.

He stated: "It’s a spectacle to see Messi. He is a player of immense quality who embodies South American football. Let him enjoy it, because it could be his last World Cup. He can easily play another one; he looks after himself so well that he can go on even longer."

Neymar remains vital for Brazil’s ambitions

Alongside his comments about Messi, Carlos also spoke about his home nation’s preparations. He offered his perspective on Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading goal scorer with 79 goals from 128 caps.

Despite an injury-plagued spell that limited him to six goals in 15 club appearances and with his full recovery still pending, Ancelotti has included the forward in Brazil’s final squad.

Carlos noted: "We have to see if Neymar recovers 100%. The team needs him, whether he’s on the pitch or not, because even from the bench he adds a lot to the side. And if he plays, it’s a spectacle."

What lies ahead for South America’s powerhouses?

Brazil begin their Group C campaign against Morocco on June 14, followed by matches against Haiti on June 20 and Scotland on June 25. Meanwhile, Messi’s Argentina kick off their Group J journey against Algeria on June 17, with subsequent fixtures against Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 28.

Can Argentina go all the way at the World Cup once again?