Julian Alvarez wants Lionel Messi to continue playing for Argentina for as long as he wants as he looks to repeat his success at the 2022 World Cup.Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez, along with Lionel Messi, led Argentina’s attack to glory at the World Cup for the first time in 36 years in Qatar. The pair will reunite with Lionel Scaloni’s side at this summer’s Copa America, which could be Messi’s last tournament with La Albiceleste.

However, Alvarez said he hopes the eight-time Golden Ball winner continues to contribute to his country.

“It will depend on Messi but I think if he wants, he can do it comfortably,” Alvarez told GOAL in an exclusive interview, when asked if he and his teammates What do Argentina think about Messi leaving the team and whether they want their captain to continue playing or not?Julian Alvarez has been a fan of Messi since childhood and admitted it was “crazy” that he ended up playing alongside his idol and bringing glory to Argentina. Alvarez added: “When I was growing up, Messi was my idol and I remember during training sessions with the senior team, I asked to take a picture with him.”

“And when I got to the first team, I had a different perspective. It was something crazy but also really great and I tried to enjoy every moment of playing with Messi. And I’m very proud of everything we have achieved with the national team. It’s great that he has achieved glory after a long search.”

Messi is Argentina’s all-time top scorer with 106 goals, 50 more than second-placed Gabriel Batistuta, whom he overtook in 2016. He also overtook Batistuta to become the top scorer of all time. The player who scored the most goals for Argentina at the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Alvarez has won six major titles between December 2022 and December 2023, and is aiming for even more success this year.

The striker born in 2000 has set a goal of helping Man City repeat last year’s treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, and he is also determined to help Argentina successfully defend the Copa America crown: “Obviously we I will try it again,” Alvarez added.