Argentina captain Lionel Messi says Sunday’s final will be the last World Cup game of his career.
The 35-year-old forward scored his fifth goal of Qatar 2022 and helped set up two others in Tuesday’s 3-0 semi-final win over Croatia.
Playing in his fifth World Cup, Messi has never won the game’s biggest prize.
“I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is really very gratifying,” he said.
“Everything I lived in this World Cup has been emotional, seeing how much it has been enjoyed in Argentina.
“There are a lot of years from this year to the next one. I don’t think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant.”
Argentina will play France or Morocco, who meet on Wednesday at 19:00 GMT, in the final, when Messi is set to make a record 26th appearance in a men’s World Cup.
Messi has won the Ballon d’Or – awarded to the world’s best player – a record seven times and been named Fifa Best Men’s Player once.
Other honours include four Champions Leagues, 11 top-flight titles and Copa America glory with Argentina in 2021.
The World Cup is the one glaring omission, Argentina having lost to Germany in the 2014 final in Brazil.
