Get the champagne ready! Bellingham bags as Madrid march on

Declan Rice is a £105m bargain! 

Gallagher exit would be more transfer insanity from Chelsea

Russo, Mead & Arsenal can warn WSL by denting City's title bid

On-fire Fowler key to City's WSL title bid after ousting Kelly

La Liga top scorers 2023: Pichichi race

Reynolds and McElhenney announce huge Wrexham board change

How to buy UEFA Champions League Final tickets

Champions League top scorers 2023-24: Golden Boot race

Messi English update: USMNT star Gressel ‘still bilingual’

Foden in pole position to land EPL Player of the Season

Klopp responds to ugly Salah spat before hosting Spurs

Bayern consider move for Lopetegui despite West Ham talks

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Alvarez hopes Messi will keep going</li><li>Inter Miami striker says retirement not far away</li><li>Argentina hoping to defend Copa America title </li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Julian Alvarez exclusive: Retire?! We all want Lionel Messi to keep playing for Argentina - Inter Miami star can comfortably keep leading us for years

The Manchester City forward led Argentina's attack with Messi as the Albiceleste won their first World Cup in 36 years in Qatar. The pair are set to link up again for Lionel Scaloni's side at the Copa America this summer, which <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/lionel-messi-discusses-argentina-retirement-admits-last-years-of-his-career-inter-miami-presentation/blt3b32a6ab1ba39abf" target="_blank">could be Messi's last dance with Argentina</a>. However, Alvarez said he would love for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner to keep on playing for his country.

WHAT HAPPENED?

"It will depend on him but I think if he wants to he can do it comfortably," Alvarez told GOAL in an exclusive interview. Asked if he and his Argentina team-mates want Messi to keep playing, Alvarez said: "Yes we do too."

WHAT ALVAREZ SAID

Alvarez grew up idolising Messi and admitted it was "crazy" that he ended up playing alongside his hero for Argentina. "When I was growing up he was my idol and I remember in the training sessions with the senior team I asked him for a photo," Alvarez added. "And then when I went to the senior team I got another point of view. It’s something crazy but also really nice and I try to enjoy every moment playing with him. And I’m very proud of everything we’ve achieved with the national team in this time and which he got after searching for it so long."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Messi is Argentina's all-time top scorer with 106 goals, 50 more than second-placed Gabriel Batistuta, who he surpassed in 2016. He also overtook Batistuta as Argentina's top scorer at the World Cup by scoring seven times in Qatar.

DID YOU KNOW?

Alvarez, who won six major trophies between December 2022 and December 2023, is eyeing yet more success this year. He has already set his sights on City repeating last year's treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, and he is determined for Argentina to successfully defend their Copa America crown. "Obviously we're going to try and do it again," he added.

WHAT NEXT FOR ALVAREZ?

Julian Alvarez exclusive: Retire?! We all want Lionel Messi to keep playing for Argentina - Inter Miami star can comfortably keep leading us for years | Goal.com Cameroon

Julian Alvarez wants Lionel Messi to keep on playing for Argentina for as long as he wants as he eyes a repeat of their 2022 World Cup success.

Editors' Picks