Inter Miami will likely be Lionel Messi’s final stop.
The Argentine star and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who made the jump to Major League Soccer last year for the first time in his career, told ESPN this week that he thinks Inter Miami will be the last organization he plays for before he retires.
“I think so. At the moment I think it will be my last club, yes”, said Messi, via ESPN.
While there were rumors, or hopes, that Messi would return to Europe or Argentina to finish his career, his comments this week are not too surprising. Messi has signed a record deal to join Major League Soccer that runs until the 2025 season. At that point, he will be 38 years old. Considering he has achieved almost everything possible in the sport and has repeatedly battled injuries, he knows he is nearing the end of his playing career.
It is still unclear whether Messi will play in the 2026 World Cup in North America. Messi, who led Argentina to the World Cup title in 2022, will play with Argentina in the Copa América this summer. Argentina will open group play against Canada on June 20. Whether he plays in 2026, Messi said, will largely depend on his health.
“I’ve done this all my life,” said Messi, via ESPN. “I love playing ball. I like the training and the day to day life, the games. Yes, there is a little fear that it will all end. It’s always there. It was a difficult step leaving Europe to come here [Miami].
“The fact that we won the World Cup helped, it helped a lot, to see things differently. There’s still a lot of time left, so I’m having fun with the club, being lucky to have good teammates and friends by my side.
“I really enjoy my time with the national team, where I also have a lot of good friends. I like those little details that I know I’ll miss when I stop playing.”
Messi, who spent two decades in Europe with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, scored 12 goals for Inter Miami this season while leading the team to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. He also sparked a huge turnaround for the franchise last season and led them to victory in the League Cup in what was the club’s first major trophy.
Miami will face the Philadelphia Union next Saturday. The club will open the Leagues Cup on July 27th against Puebla.
