Mia Hamm Predicts Lionel Messi's Future in 2030 World Cup

US soccer legend Mia Hamm has shared her thoughts on Lionel Messi's potential participation in the 2030 World Cup, hosted in South America, including Argentina. Hamm, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time US Soccer Female Athlete of the Year, believes Messi will not play in the 2030 World Cup.

Why It Matters for United States

The 2030 World Cup will be a significant event for soccer fans worldwide, and the possibility of Messi participating will undoubtedly generate immense interest. Hamm's prediction adds to the excitement surrounding the tournament.

What Comes Next?

While Hamm believes Messi will not play in the 2030 World Cup, she leaves the door open for the possibility of him participating. Messi, who is 39 years old, is still going strong in the MLS for Inter Miami, leading the team to a second-best record in the league midway through the season.

Mia Hamm is one of the most influential figures in US soccer history. She led the 1999 US Women's soccer team to gold at the World Cup, winning the entire tournament while hosting the women's tournament for the first time. Hamm became a mainstream name and one of the most influential sports figures, appearing in a well-known Gatorade commercial with NBA great Michael Jordan in 1999. Her accomplishments are endless, having not only won the World Cup but also leading the United States to gold medals at the Olympics on two occasions (1996, 2004) while also winning US Soccer Female Athlete of the Year five years in a row.

The soccer icon played internationally until the age of 32, winning the gold medal in her final appearance in Athens in 2004. Fast forward to the present day, and another fellow soccer icon could soon be winding down his own career. Lionel Messi - who is 39 years old - is coming off of a sensational World Cup run that saw him lead Argentina to its second consecutive World Cup Final. Although they came up short in the title game against Spain, Messi had arguably the best World Cup run of his career, totaling eight goals and four assists, including one game in which he scored three goals.

The topic of whether or not Messi will play in the 2030 World Cup is an interesting one considering the start of the tournament will be played in South America, including Messi's home country of Argentina. When asked if she believes Messi will play in the 2030 World Cup for a chance to play the tournament in front of his home country, Hamm said if she had to make a prediction, she doesn't believe he will. However, she leaves the possibility open considering it's Messi.

"I say no, but then again, he surprises me every single day when I watch him play, and I don't count him out of anything," said Hamm in a one-on-one interview with Heavy Sports. "He's done so much for this game. It's one of the things I tell people about one of the reasons I love soccer so much is you go watch the NBA or NFL, and you stand beside a quarterback, and they're like six-foot-four, and 230 pounds. You're like, 'Okay, I get it.' And then you go and you see Lionel Messi, and if you didn't know who he was and walked into a room, and you see this guy that's 5-foot-6, 5-foot-7, and you say that's the best player in the world.

"People would say there's absolutely no way," Hamm continued. "And he's just brought so much joy and excitement to so many of our lives, being able to watch him play. So I wouldn't be surprised (if he plays in) 2030, but I mean, he's done enough. If he said I'm retiring tomorrow, it's well deserved."

Opportunity to Play World Cup in Home Country May be Too Enticing for Lionel Messi

Messi is obviously still going strong in the MLS for Inter Miami as they're the defending MLS Cup champs. They currently have the second-best record in the MLS midway through the season. Messi ranks fourth in the league in goals and assists and leads the MLS in shots. However, four full years is a long way out. With that being said, the opportunity to play the World Cup in your home country - something that Hamm not only did, but won the gold medal - is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It may be too hard for Messi to pass up.