Lionel Messi has seemingly been set a crazy World Cup target by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The 36-year-old has appeared in each edition of the competition since 2006, famously winning the last tournament in Qatar to truly cement his legacy as one of the greatest players to have ever graced a football field.
Read: Pogba 'on verge' of major decision in doping scandal
The former FC Barcelona captain has also scored 13 goals in 26 World Cup matches, which puts him joint-fourth with legendary France striker Just Fontaine in the list of the competition's all-time top goalscorers.
The Argentina international is only three goals away from the tournament's all-time leading goal-getter Miroslav Klose, who managed to score 16 times in 24 matches.
Speaking about the next few editions of arguably the biggest contest in world football, FIFA's president said that he wants Messi's legacy to extend all the way to 2034, when he will be 47 years old.
"We talked about the match, about the World Cup, of course. We remembered the last World Cup and planned the next ones. We are very well, all happy, all in agreement, 2026 will be the first 48-team World Cup, it will be huge," Infantino told DSport.
"It will be here in America, in the United States, Mexico and Canada. It will be a soccer party, a total success, I'm sure.
"I hope he [Messi] makes it to the next World Cup, the one after that, and the one in 2034 as well. Whenever he wants."
The Inter Miami forward has previously stated that he has set his sights on being a part of his national side when they compete in the 2024 Copa America, and although he also admitted to being unsure as to whether or not he would participate in the 2026 World Cup, the MLS star did not rule it out as a possibility.
If the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner were to accomplish the unthinkable feat suggested by Infantino, he would do so at 47 years of age.
Read: Man Utd put R4.3bn trio 'up for sale'
The current record for the oldest player to have ever participated in the tournament is Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who was 45 years old and 161 days when he played at the 2018 World Cup.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
WATCH: