Lionel Messi says he will reconsider his future in football later this year but said it’s likely “many things will change” after the World Cup in November and December in Qatar.

Messi’s comments came after Argentina beat Venezuela 3-0 on Friday in the remaining match of the penultimate round of South American World Cup qualifying. “I don’t know what I will do after the World Cup. I am thinking about what is coming,” Messi said.

“After Qatar I will have to reassess many things.”

He added his doubts had nothing to do with past frustration playing for Argentina. He won his first title with the team last year — the Copa America in a final against Brazil. “It has been a while that I am happy here, since before winning the Copa. I am thankful for all this they make me feel every time I come to Argentina,” Messi said.

Asked about him continuing with the national team after Qatar, Messi, who turns 35 in June, said: “I don’t know, the truth is I don’t know.

I think about that is coming, which is close, Ecuador (on Tuesday). The preparation matches in June and September.”

“Let’s hope these go the best way possible. But for sure after the World Cup many things will change.”

Friday’s game marked Messi’s return to the national side after being rested for Argentina’s previous two World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia.

He made several unsuccessful attempts at goal from free-kicks outside the box but eventually score the third, a curious miskick meters from goal.

Messi chested down a pass from Angel Di Maria and although he didn’t connect cleanly it was enough to beat Venezuela’s diving goalkeeper.

The 82nd minute goal came after earlier efforts from Nicolas Gonzalez and Di Maria, whose clever play and passes opened up a stuffy Venezuelan rearguard.

Salah scores

Mohamed Salah got the better of his club mate Sadio Mane as Egypt edged Senegal 1-0 in the first leg of their playoff on Friday to take a slender lead to Dakar for Tuesday’s return.

The rematch between the two Liverpool greats, six weeks after Senegal beat Egypt on penalties to win their first Africa Cup of Nations title, saw Salah set up the only goal.

He beat the offside trap to get on the end of a ball over the top of the defence from Amr El Sulaya, hitting the bar before the rebound bounced off Senegal defender Saliou Ciss’s knee and into the net for a dream start after four minutes.

But that was all Egypt managed despite a capacity 75,000 crowd at the Cairo International Stadium where Senegal proved more enterprising and will still feel confident about winning the tie on aggregate and advancing to Qatar.

Mane was the heart of much of his team’s attacks and had an excellent chance eight minutes before half time as a mazy run at the defence saw him open up space to shoot, only to slip at the vital moment and see his shot balloon well wide.

He also had a chance at the back post early in the second half but failed to make contact with Egypt’s defence stretched.

Senegal kept pressing until the final whistle in search of an equaliser, and a potentially vital away goal, but were kept at bay by some desperate defending.

The away goals rule is still in use in African football despite being removed from competition in Europe this season.

Support for Mancini

Italian football federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina has backed coach Roberto Mancini to continue in his role despite the team failing to qualify for Qatar.

“I hope Mancini continues with us,” Gravina said.

“He has a commitment with us for this project. I hope he can shake off this elimination just like all the Italians and that he remains at the helm to continue our work together.”

The Azzurri were feted as national heroes after they won the European Championship in July 2021 but the team have crashed back to earth after missing out on the World Cup finals for the second time running.

South America

• l Argentina 3 Venezuela 0
  Africa
• Egypt 1 Senegal 0
• Ghana 0 Nigeria 0
• DR Congo 1 Morocco 1
• Mali 0 Tunisia 1
• Cameroon 0 Algeria 1