We’ve got odds of 7/5 that La Pulga will fail to shine on the biggest stage once more, leading him to announce his retirement from international football (again).
But, should Euro 2016 winners Portugal be eliminated from the competition, the chances that Cristiano Ronaldo attempts to make it all about him by retiring from international duty are more likely than Messi, at 5/4.
And the odds that the Portuguese striker completes his trophy cabinet by winning the World Cup this year and then retiring are 28/1.
Meanwhile, with Mo Salah’s Egypt already out of the competition and the Liverpool star reportedly upset with the fallout of his honorary Chechen citizenship, the odds that the Egyptian King cuts short his international career are just 5/1.
With youth flourishing at this year’s competition, it could be game over for the old guard. Of those over thirty, Keisuke Honda (4/6), Radamel Falcao, Vincent Kompany (both 8/11) and Manuel Neuer (11/10) look most likely to shuffle off to the international football retirement home after the tournament.
Spokesman Paddy Power said: “The World Cup is always a great opportunity for young players to announce themselves on the biggest stage, and for the older players to realise that they don’t quite have the legs for it anymore after being skinned on the wing by a nineteen-year-old.
“While it looks like a World Cup retirement party is on the cards, at least Messi already knows the ropes having done it once before.”
WORLD CUP RETIREMENT SPECIALS
Keisuke Honda to retire from international duty following the World Cup 4/6
Radamel Falcao to retire from international duty following the World Cup 8/11
Vincent Kompany to retire from international duty following the World Cup 8/11
Manuel Neuer to retire following from international duty the World Cup 11/10
Cristiano Ronaldo to retire from international duty following the World Cup 5/4
Lionel Messi to retire from international duty following the World Cup 7/5
Edison Cavani to retire from international duty following the World Cup 8/5
Keylor Navas to retire from international duty following the World Cup 13/8
Olivier Giroud to retire from international duty following the World Cup 7/4
Mohamed Salah to retire from international duty following the World Cup 5/1
Portugal to win the World Cup and Ronaldo to retire from international duty 28/1