Messi says he would continue his career with Argentina after the World Cup.

DOHA: Argentina’s Lionel Messi promised on Sunday to continue playing for his nation after finally fulfilling his lifelong dream of winning the World Cup.

“I want to keep enjoying a few more matches as world champion,” Messi, 35, said after Argentina’s thrilling penalty shootout triumph against France in the World Cup final in Doha.

However, Messi revealed that his career was virtually over when Argentina’s captain won the one big international prize he lacked.

The Paris Saint-Germain front scored twice in the thrilling and chaotic final, which finished 3-3 after 120 minutes, before the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner netted his spot-kick in the shoot-out, which Argentina won 4-2.

“Obviously, I’d prefer to conclude my career with this; I couldn’t ask for anything better,” Messi remarked.

“My career is coming to an end because these are my final years.”

And, despite so many failures on football’s grandest stage, like losing the 2014 World Cup final to Germany in Brazil, Messi believes his moment will come.

“It’s unbelievable that it happened at the time it did,” he remarked.

“It’s incredible that it could end this way. I previously said that God would grant me something, and I’m not sure why, but I believed it would be this time.”

Turning his focus back to the game, Messi claimed it was difficult to explain after Argentina blew a two-goal lead late in the game for the second time in a week, following their quarter-final triumph against the Netherlands.

Argentina led 2-0 at halftime and 3-2 in extra time, but a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick, including two late goals in regular time and another in extra time, pegged Argentina back and forced penalties.

“It was a bizarre match, much like the last one against the Netherlands, and then when we went up in extra time, it happened again,” Messi added.

However, he acknowledged that the World Cup trophy is “wonderful.”

After the game, Messi hugged his family and teammates, while Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni, winger Angel Di Maria, who scored Argentina’s second goal, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez could not hold back their tears.

Messi has made 172 appearances for Argentina, scoring 98 goals since his debut in 2005.