Argentina captain Lionel Messi said on Thursday that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will "surely" be the last of his career. 

"It's my last World Cup, surely. I feel good physically, I was able to do a very good pre-season this year, which I couldn't do last year. It was essential to get to where I am, with a good state of mind and a lot of hope," the 35-year-old said during an interview in Paris where he plays for Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi, who is due to appear in his fifth World Cup, made his international debut in 2005 and has since won 164 caps for Argentina and is the country's all-time record scorer with 90 goals.

The superstar admitted he was nervous about the impending tournament in Qatar. 

"There is anxiety, nerves about the World Cup," he said, "we can't wait for it to start." 

Messi's international debut as a substitute against Hungary in 2005 lasted just two minutes before he was sent off but he quickly established himself in the national team set-up and traveled to Germany for his first World Cup in 2006. 

He went on to play in the 2010 edition in South Africa, 2014 in Brazil, where Argentina reached the final, and 2018 in Russia. 

The current side, under the management of Lionel Scaloni, has now gone 35 games without defeat and is likely to figure as one of the pre-tournament favorites for the Qatar tournament. 

Messi said he was heading to Qatar with a positive outlook as the elder statesman in a team full of young talent who ended Argentina's 28-year wait for an international trophy with their Copa America victory.

"We have reached a good moment, with a very well-equipped and very strong group, but anything can happen," said Messi. 

"All the games are very difficult. The favorites are not always the ones who end up winning or taking the path that one expected...Argentina is always a candidate because of its history and what it means. But we are not the only favorites, other teams are above us."

Argentina will face the United Arab Emirates in their final warm-up match in November before playing Saudi Arabia in their opening Group C game at the World Cup on November 22. Mexico and Poland are the other teams in the group.

(With input from agencies)