FIFA President: 'Messi is the highest level ambassador of football'

Infantino was invited to speak online, at an event for sports managers in Buenos Aires, Argentina on the evening of September 6.

He said he will continue to enjoy Messi's performances until he retires. "Messi is the highest-level ambassador of football, both in the US and around the world," he added. "He continues to perform every week at Inter Miami, and soon with Argentina. The South American World Cup qualifiers are difficult but with Messi, the Argentine fans will enjoy."

The 53-year-old president also recalled Argentina's championship win at the 2022 World Cup, and congratulated Messi again. "I thought Messi won the 2022 World Cup title yesterday, but it's been nine months," Infantino said. "The last World Cup was the most impressive in history, and I don't know if there will be another final like that."

Messi scored a double in the final, and also made a mark in the other goal, when Argentina drew 3-3 with France at Lusail Stadium in Qatar on December 18, 2022. Kylian Mbappe also scored a hat-trick, helping the European representatives chase the score from the second half to extra time. In the penalty shootout, Mbappe and Messi both kicked, but the victory belonged to Argentina when they succeeded in all four penalty shootouts, while the opponent missed twice. The FIFA President said that this match brings together all the dramatic elements in football.

Argentina will prepare to play their first official match as defending World Cup champions, when they play the qualifying round against Ecuador at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, September 8, Hanoi time. Messi is expected to start for the hosts in this match.

Also in his speech, Infantino said FIFA will hold a vote in December 2024 to choose a representative to host the 2030 World Cup. That tournament, marking the 100th anniversary of the World Cup was first held in Uruguay. Therefore, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay are racing to host the 2030 World Cup, but they have to compete with a coalition of Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Ukraine.

Infantino believes that no matter which coalition hosts the World Cup, the 2030 World Cup will be successful. He also affirmed that FIFA will continue to use video referee (VAR) technology for tournaments they organize in the future. "I can't imagine a tournament without VAR," he said. "It feels like this technology has been around for a hundred years, even though we just tested it for the first time at the Continuous Cup in 2017."