The legend continues! FIFA long article talks about Melo not retiring for the time being: fans are lucky! 2026 is not the curtain call

FIFA’s official website issued an article talking about the topic of Messi and Ronaldo not retiring for the time being.

The full text of FIFA's official website is as follows:

When one person is helping the national team secure a spot in next year's World Cup, the other is still leading the national team to qualify for the qualifying round. For Messi and Ronaldo, this football feast in the North American continent is not the curtain call of their careers, but another major test in their legendary journey.

In recent months, the news that the two superstars have renewed their contracts with the club has further highlighted this reality. Messi will renew his contract with Inter Miami until 2028, while Ronaldo will sign with Riyadh Victory until June 2027.

The 38-year-old Messi seems to have found a place that makes him happy, and his desire for success has not diminished at all. Meanwhile, Ronaldo, 40, is following a similar trajectory. The grand narrative of the World Cup seems poised to once again weave these two giants into its storyline.

If Messi and Ronaldo can participate in the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, they will become players who have participated in six consecutive World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026), surpassing Carbajal, Marquez, Guardado and Matthäus.

With excellent physical condition and avoiding serious injuries, both Messi and Ronaldo have postponed their seemingly imminent retirement plans and continue to be driven by their love for football. The two prefer to enjoy the moment rather than rush to the end or arrange a farewell.

Messi said after renewing his contract, "I have always said that my decision is based on my daily physical and mental feelings. In fact, I feel very good this year. I am very happy in Miami, and so is my family."

Since arriving in the United States in July 2023, Messi has always shown his huge influence on the court. He quickly became Inter Miami's all-time leading goalscorer and helped the team win major trophies the MLS Supporters' Shield and the UEFA Cup.

Under the leadership of Mascherano this season, the team successfully advanced to the playoffs and has the ambition to win the highest honor of the MLS Championship. Messi also won the MLS Golden Boot and performed well in the first Club World Cup, helping the team stand out from the competition with Cairo Nacional, Palmeiras and Porto.

With Argentina performing well in the South American qualifiers and ranking first, successfully qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, Messi's plans for the future are clearer than previously imagined.

A few months before winning the World Cup in Qatar, he said: "I have said before that after this (2022) World Cup, I need to think about a lot of things. Now I am not sure yet, I am just focusing on this game, and then we will see what happens next." From the last World Cup to the upcoming World Cup, Messi has experienced many ups and downs. The draw for the 2026 World Cup will be held in Washington on December 5.

Although Messi once again proved his importance to Argentina coached by Scaloni, he inevitably encountered some injuries. For example, in last year's Copa America final, he was forced to leave the field due to injury in the second half, and in March this year, he also missed the World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil due to injury.

However, Argentina performed positively without him, emerging with a group of new stars such as Almada, Mastantono and Nico Paz, who seamlessly integrated into the world championship team.

C Ronaldo's Road

Since joining Riyadh Victory in December 2022, Ronaldo has quickly entered the state. Although he has yet to lead the team to win honors in the Saudi Arabian League, which is full of stars and huge investment, his personal performance is still outstanding.

In the 2023-24 season, Ronaldo topped the scorer list with 35 goals, and scored another 25 goals in the following season, successfully defending the Golden Boot.

In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo's status in coach Santos' team has declined and he can only sit on the bench in several key games, including the 1/8 finals against Switzerland and the 1/4 finals against Morocco. He walked off the field with his head bowed after the defeat to Morocco in what many believed would be his last game for the national team.

However, Ronaldo did not stop there. Under Martinez, he once again became a core player. He played a key role in Portugal's UEFA Nations League title win in June, including scoring in the final against Spain. In addition, he also helped Portugal take the lead in the World Cup qualifiers. Portugal currently ranks first in Group F of the World European Qualifiers with 10 points.

In the match against Hungary last month, Ronaldo scored twice and almost sealed the victory, but was eventually equalized by his opponent. Portugal now turn their attention to their trip to Ireland next Thursday. A win would ensure they advance, while a draw would require Hungary to hope for a win against Armenia.

It is worth mentioning that in the match against Hungary, Ronaldo surpassed Guatemalan striker Ruiz and became the top scorer in the history of the World Cup preliminaries.

Messi and Ronaldo, two names that have been closely linked for nearly two decades, have once again postponed the idea of ​​retiring. This is certainly welcome news for football fans as the two superstars continue to work their magic in the football world.