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Lionel Messi will not retire immediately from international football after finally capping an extraordinary career with Argentina’s first World Cup since 1986, preferring to soak up the glory for at least a while longer, the Guardian reports.

On a dizzying night in Lusail it seemed more than once that Messi could be denied the fulfilment of a lifelong dream at the fifth attempt. But he added to his two goals and virtuoso all-round performance in regulation time with a penalty during a successful shootout against France and afterwards confirmed his 172nd cap was not his last.

“Obviously I wanted to complete my career with this – I can’t ask for more,” he said. “Finishing my career this way is impressive. After this, what else? I have a Copa América, a World Cup, almost at the very end.

“I love football, what I do. I enjoy being part of the national team, the group. I want to enjoy a couple more matches being a world champion.”

Messi has previously claimed Qatar 2022 would be his last World Cup and there is no indication he will continue beyond the short-to-medium term. But his manager, Lionel Scaloni, made clear the door would be open in three and a half years’ time if he made himself available for the 2026 edition. Messi will turn 39 during that tournament, which will take place in the US, Canada and Mexico.