Argentina star Lionel Messi has announced that Inter Miami will be his “last club” and acknowledged that “there’s not a lot of time left” in his illustrious career.
At 36, Messi joined Inter Miami last summer, ending his 20-year stint in Europe where he played for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
In an interview with ESPN, which is set to air on Wednesday, Messi discussed his plans and future in football. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is contracted with Inter Miami until the end of the 2025 season and has already made a significant impact, scoring 14 goals in all competitions and helping the team top the Eastern Conference.
Messi’s move to Miami reunited him with former Barcelona teammates Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.
He expressed his sentiment in the interview, stating, “Yes, as of today, I think it’s going to be my last club.” However, he also noted, “I’m not ready to leave football either.”
Messi, who will turn 37 on June 24, has had a legendary career. With Barcelona, he won four Champions League titles and 10 La Liga titles. He also led Argentina to victory in the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup and is set to compete in this month’s Copa America in the United States.
Reflecting on his transition from Europe to MLS, Messi said, “It was a difficult step to leave Europe to come here. The fact of having been world champion helped a lot to see things differently also.”
His arrival has significantly boosted MLS’s profile, with matches selling out wherever he plays and his jersey becoming the most popular among MLS merchandise.
Looking ahead, Messi is contemplating participating in the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada. He shared his thoughts on nearing the end of his career, saying, “My whole life I did this. I love playing ball. I enjoy the training, the day every day, of the matches. I’m a little afraid that everything will end.”
Messi is Barcelona’s all-time top scorer with 672 goals and also had impressive stats at PSG, scoring 32 goals and registering 35 assists in two seasons. His career, marked by 40 trophies for club and country, reached its pinnacle with Argentina’s World Cup victory in 2022.
