Lionel Messi’s international future remains uncertain, but some Argentina supporters are already dreaming about the next generation of the family appearing on football’s biggest stage.
The focus is on Messi’s eldest son, Thiago, who is progressing through Inter Miami’s academy. The prospect of him representing Argentina at the centenary World Cup in 2030 has attracted attention, although the theory rests on a significant error regarding his age.
Thiago will still be 17
According to Iván Castiblanco of MARCA, supporters have highlighted the fact that Thiago will turn 18 in 2030 as they imagine him earning an early call-up to Argentina’s senior squad.
However, Thiago was born on November 2, 2012, meaning he will still be 17 when the tournament is staged. According to FIFA’s official tournament page, the 2030 World Cup will take place during June and July — several months before his 18th birthday.
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Turning 18 is not a requirement for senior international football, so his age would not prevent him from being selected. Even so, reaching World Cup level while still 17 would require an extraordinary rise through the professional ranks.
His Argentina dream is genuine
Thiago has already made his international preference clear. According to LA NACION’s account of his first major interview, he said: “I want to play for the Argentina national team.”
When asked whether Spain could persuade him to represent the country of his birth, he replied: “No, I don’t think so.”
However, the widely circulated claim that Thiago has spoken about dreaming of sharing a dressing room or pitch with his father could not be verified in the original interview. It should therefore not be presented as a direct quote from him.
Early promise at Inter Miami
Thiago is currently developing in Inter Miami’s youth system rather than playing senior football. According to Infobae, he was part of the club’s under-14 side that won the MICFootball Punta Cana tournament in 2026.
Those achievements represent encouraging early steps, but it remains far too soon to judge whether he can eventually reach elite professional or international level.
A father-son appearance remains a fantasy
Lionel Messi would be 43 during the 2030 World Cup and has made no commitment to continuing his international career for another four years.
Asked about the possibility, Messi was quoted by NDTV Sports as saying: “It seems a bit far off but, as I said, I’m living one day at a time and focused on the present.”
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A father-and-son appearance for Argentina would be an extraordinary chapter in World Cup history. For now, however, it remains an appealing piece of speculation rather than a realistic plan.
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