Missing for Benfica, Nicolás Otamendi confirms key decision | OneFootball

Nicolás Otamendi confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his final official appearance in the Argentina national team shirt. On his way to join up with the Albiceleste squad, the Benfica captain said he will leave Lionel Scaloni’s team and also spoke about Lionel Messi’s future.

"Yes, obviously. As I said, after the World Cup, my cycle with the national team will come to an end, that’s a fact," Otamendi began in comments to the local press, confirming the rumours that had already surfaced over the past year regarding his presence at the tournament.

"I’m very happy and enjoying this moment," he added, saying that now is the time to savour his final matches for the world champions. "A cycle with the national team is coming to an end, it’s my last World Cup. I’ll be just another fan," assured Otamendi, Benfica’s captain.

"No, that’s not something we talk about, it’s just something we live. When we get together, we live in the moment, enjoy the chance to be together once again and nothing more," said the Eagles’ number 20 - who missed the clash against Vitória de Guimarães - when speaking about Messi’s future with the Argentina national team.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.