FIFA has announced that Argentina’s Lionel Messi is “too old” to play in the upcoming World Cup.
The 28-year-old, who is currently recovering from surgery to remove a tumour from his kidney, was born in 1982 and is the youngest player to be inducted into the Football Hall of Fame.
The former Barcelona star has not played since the first match of the 2014-15 campaign, which Argentina won 2-1 on aggregate.
Messi will now join Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez and Thiago Silva as the only players who have been capped by FIFA at more than one international level.
“In my opinion, Lionel Messi cannot play at the World Cup,” FIFA’s president, Jerome Valcke, said.
Messi has played only once for Argentina since 2014 and has only played in two friendlies, against the Netherlands and Chile, both in 2015.
He has not been included in Argentina’s squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, which starts on July 12.
Vallecke said Messi’s age was the reason why the World Cups had to be postponed.
“Lionel Messi is too old,” he said.
“It’s a shame.
I believe he is a very good player.
FIFA has made no mention of Messi’s surgery, though it is understood that the Argentinian will have to undergo a double mastectomy and a kidney transplant.
Despite having been cleared to resume training ahead of the tournament, Messi will not be able to play against his former club, Barca, in the opening match on Saturday.
He will then be required to travel to Uruguay, where he will play in his last international match on July 6 against Chile.”
I’m sure the world will respect his professionalism.” “
He needs to recover.
I’m sure the world will respect his professionalism.”
Lionels Messi, right, and Neymar, left, have not played for Argentina in the World Tournaments since 2014 (Picture: Getty)The World Cup is the last major competition before the 2018 Euro, which will take place in France.
Argentina are not eligible for the 2019 World Cup due to a Fifa ruling that prevents players from playing in the summer.
However, Argentina are not the only nation to have been ruled out of the 2019 tournament.
Brazil, Chile, Germany, Italy and Mexico have all been ruled ineligible for the tournament due to their World Cup ban.
Neymar, who joined Barcelona from PSV Eindhoven in 2011, is the only player in the current line-up to be given a World Cup debut.
Barcelona have been tipped to beat Real Madrid in the Copa America Centenario on Friday, which would mean Messi will miss the tournament in Brazil, where they will face Argentina on July 8.
But Valckel said Messi will be “more than ready” to resume his playing career.
“[He] has a good chance to play at a high level,” Valckes said.