World Cup winner Lionel Messi is not ready to call time on his glittering international career just yet.
The 35-year-old led from the front with two goals in a thrilling 3-3 extra-time draw with France in Qatar on Sunday and then scored in the penalty shoot-out as Argentina lifted the trophy for the third time, but the first for him.
Messi had indicated during the build-up to the final that the game would be his last on the world stage, but speaking afterwards he told Argentinian TV station TyC Sports: "Obviously I wanted to cap my career with this and I can't ask for anything more.
"What will happen after this? I've managed to win the Copa America and the World Cup almost at the end...
"I love football, it's what I do. I enjoy being in the national team and want to continue by experiencing a few more games as a world champion."
Whether or not "a few more games" will constitute a title defence in four years' time remains to be seen, but head coach Lionel Scaloni is hoping so.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Scaloni said: "First of all, we need to save him a spot for the next World Cup in 2026. If he wants to keep playing, he'll be with us."
Scaloni saw his side pegged back twice, firstly as a result of Kylian Mbappe's quick-fire double after Messi's penalty and Angel Di Maria's strike had put them in control, and then courtesy of Mbappe's third - just the second hat-trick in the final - following another Messi goal, before they eventually prevailed 4-2 on penalties.
He said: "The match was completely insane. It wasn't in my plans. I didn't envisage to be World Cup winners, but now we are and the most important thing is how we achieved this."
Meanwhile Gary Lineker and Pablo Zabaleta were left baffled by the sight of Messi lifting the World Cup in a see-through black robe.
At the trophy presentation he was offered a bisht, a traditional Arab cloak, to wear by the Emir of Qatar.
Messi allowed the Emir to place the robe around his shoulders before taking the trophy from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and lifting it in front of his ecstatic team-mates.
BBC presenter Lineker felt the decision spoiled what should have been a "magic moment".
The former England striker said: "This is a magic moment. It seems a shame in a way that they've covered up Messi in his Argentina shirt."
Ex-Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta agreed, saying on BBC One: "Just why? No reason to do that."
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