Tapia: Messi will make his own decisions about the future; the doors here are always open.

According to Tycsports, Argentine Football Association President Claudio Tapia praised Messi's World Cup performance and emphasized that whether he continues to play for the Argentine national team is entirely up to him.

Tapia praised Messi's World Cup performance: He is the best player, breaking records in every game.

Although the 2026 World Cup didn't end the way all Argentine fans hoped, Messi's performance for the Argentine national team was still outstanding. He broke records in every match and led the team to the final against Spain. In an interview with TyC Sports, Argentine Football Association President Claudio Tapia discussed Messi's performance in this World Cup and urged caution in judging whether the Rosario native has written his final chapter for the Argentine national team.

“This was a great World Cup for Messi, and we thoroughly enjoyed it and should be proud of it. I enjoyed every moment I saw him, every time he was on the pitch. Without a doubt, he was the standard-bearer for this team in this World Cup, and he has been in every competition he has led the team in. If you analyze his performance in this World Cup, for me he is the best player. He was breaking records in every game,” Tapia said on the program “Presión Alta”.

So, does this World Cup with Messi mean that the Azzurri can usher in a new chapter? According to Tapia, it's not yet decided, but he says only the captain himself knows the answer. "It's a purely personal decision for him. We need to let him be quiet. He must continue to have the same desire to play. In 2022, we didn't know if he would still be playing in 2026. He said he would take it one game at a time, and I think we've already seen a very good, perhaps even the best, version of Messi in the World Cup. We need to let him continue to enjoy it, that is, playing football, and then make the decision he believes is right. The door is always open."

Finally, Tapia said that what he cherishes most is the hug after each match, a memory of this World Cup, and one related to Messi. "That's when we meet after the game. I will remember those moments, that feeling, and the relationship between us," Tapia concluded.