Messi s next goal is to fail before the Club World Cup?

Argentina's "Ole" reported that the team's elimination in the semi-finals of the Central and North America and the Caribbean Champions League has caused Argentine superstar Messi to face setbacks in Miami International's journey to strive for the third intercontinental championship. Although the 37-year-old veteran (less than 50 days after his 38th birthday) showed continuous dominance in the US League this season, the team's two-round defeat to his strong rivals forced him to adjust his season's goals - shifting from the Intercontinental Championship to the league's top, while adding chips to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Messi originally planned to adjust his status through the China-North American Champions League final to warm up for the Club World Cup, but Miami International's early exit disrupted the deployment. Although his personal condition is hot - he has played for 90 minutes in 7 consecutive games after returning from injury, and the high-intensity confrontation between the MFA and the intercontinental competition also provides guarantees for his competitive state, the team's overall strength is inadequate to force him to face reality. At present, Messi has turned his attention to the top of the Eastern Conference of the US League. The team is currently at the forefront of the league, and the remaining seven rounds of the regular season will become an important battlefield for him to regain his confidence.

As the Club World Cup (attacking Cairo Nationals on June 14) approaches, Messi's schedule has attracted much attention. Argentina national team coach Scaloni needs to make a trade-off between the players' physical fitness in the World Cup (versus Chile, Colombia) in May. From a realistic perspective, Messi is more likely to choose to stay in Miami to prepare for the Club World Cup to avoid physical energy consumption caused by long-distance flights. This decision not only conforms to its "health first" participation principle, but also provides more data support for the 2026 World Cup qualification assessment.

Although there is no clear statement, Messi repeatedly emphasized that "only participate when physical and competitive state allow." His continued highlight performance in the MFA this season will undoubtedly add an important weight to his goal for a seat in the World Cup. For Argentina, who is determined to defend the 2022 World Cup, the veteran's recovery in form not only rekindles hope for fans, but also adds a key piece to Scaloni's tactical system.