Inter Miami will be my last club, says Lionel Messi
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Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, has a contract with the Major League Soccer side until 2025.
PHOTO: AFP
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MIAMI – Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi expects Inter Miami to be the club where he closes his legendary football career, but he is not intending to depart from the sport right away.
The attacker, who has a contract with the Major League Soccer team until the end of the 2025 campaign, made his comments to ESPN in an interview on June 12.
“Yes, as of today, I think it’s going to be my last club,” he said.
But Messi, who turns 37 on June 24, added: “I’m not ready to leave football either.”
The record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is a Barcelona legend, having helped the Spanish giants capture four Champions League crowns and 10 La Liga titles.
He also sparked Argentina victories in the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup and is set to play for his country in the Copa America, to be staged in the United States.
After playing for Barca from 2004 to 2021, Messi was in Paris Saint-Germain from 2021 to 2023.
He then moved to Miami last season, helping the club win the Leagues Cup crown in his early days with the squad.
At his age, he now ponders playing for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, and is contemplating the end of his incredible career.
“My whole life I did this. I love playing ball. I enjoy the training, every day, and the matches. A little afraid that everything will end,” Messi said.
“I try to enjoy it. I do that more now because I’m aware that there’s not a lot of time left. So I have a good time with the club, being lucky, having good teammates and friends at my side.
“I enjoy those small details that I know I’ll miss when I stop playing.”
As it stands, he has already said he will not be part of Argentina’s squad for the Paris Olympics as he is no longer at an age where he can play in every tournament.
The Copa America runs from June 20 to July 14, while football at the Games starts shortly after that, from July 24 to Aug 10.
In February, Argentina Under-23 coach Javier Mascherano said Messi, who won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, had an invitation to join the squad for Paris.
“I talked to Mascherano and the truth is we both understood the situation,” Messi said.
“It’s hard (to think about the Olympics right now) because we’re in Copa America... and more than anything, I’m not at an age to be in everything.
“I have to choose carefully, and it would be too much to play two straight tournaments.”
Argentina play Guatemala on June 14 in their last warmup before the Copa, where they are in Group A with Peru, Chile and Canada.
Meanwhile, rivals Brazil drew 1-1 with the United States in Orlando on June 12 in a final tune-up for both sides.
The Selecao opened the scoring after 17 minutes via Real Madrid forward Rodrygo’s cool finish. But Christian Pulisic grabbed the equaliser in the 26th minute by firing a low free kick past Alisson Becker. AFP, REUTERS
