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Soccer great Lionel Messi has no intention of declaring he will play in World Cup 2026 or setting a retirement date. Instead, the Argentina World Cup champion and Inter Miami star is enjoying the twilight of his legendary career with greater appreciation, USA TODAY reported.

Messi accepted the MARCA America Award during a ceremony at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium on Thursday. The award, given by the largest sports publication in Spain, celebrates Messi’s dominance in the sport with 46 titles for club and country, and 57 individual honors he’s earned in his career.

Although Messi has his eyes set on helping Inter Miami win the MLS Cup later this year, his return to form has not slowed inquiries about his participation in the next World Cup – jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada – when he will be 39 years old.

“I was able to fulfill all my dreams and achieved many more than I dreamed of as a kid. I was able to achieve the biggest dream of a player, which is a World Cup. I won many titles in the club of my life, which is Barcelona. I also won in Paris and now with Inter. I'm fighting to continue to achieve many more things,” an introspective Messi said.

“I don't get ahead of myself. I try to enjoy day by day. When the time comes, we'll see. I don't like to accelerate time or look ahead. I try to enjoy every day. I hope I can keep playing at this level to feel good and be happy. When I get to do what I love, I am happy. I value that more than reaching the 2026 tournament. I haven't set a goal to reach the World Cup, but more so to live day-to-day and be well.”

Messi acknowledged a difficult summer, where he was sidelined from a right ankle ligament injury he sustained during the Copa America final. Messi watched from the bench as Argentina was able to win its second straight Copa America title in Miami on July 14.

Messi had his strongest performance of the year Tuesday when he scored a hat trick with two assists in a 6-0 win for Argentina against Bolivia.