Lionel Messi says he will keep on playing for Argentina beyond Copa America final

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Lionel Messi plans to keep playing for Argentina beyond Sunday's Copa America final.

“As I’ve said before, I intend to continue," he said Tuesday night after Argentina's 2-0 win over Canada. "I intend to keep living day by day without thinking about what will come in the future or whether I’ll continue or not. It’s something I just live each day. I’m 37 years and only God knows when the end will be.”

Messi scored his 109th international goal, his first in this year's tournament. It was his 14th in Copa America play, three shy of the record.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner spoke outside the locker room at MetLife Stadium, where he announced his retirement after missing a penalty kick in the shootout loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa America final. He reversed his decision seven weeks later and has scored 54 goals in 73 international appearances since, raising his matches for Argentina to 186 as he helped win the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup.