Lionel Messi first joined David Beckham’s Inter Miami back in the summer of 2023. Over a year later, Inter Miami are riding high at the top of the MLS and have already won their first major trophy — the 2023 Leagues Cup. Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and several other big names have also transitioned over to the US to join Messi’s Inter Miami revolution, helping to turn the MLS into a competitive league. However, with Messi’s current deal set to expire in 2025, the soccer world is wondering what could be next for the Argentinian “GOAT”.
Will Messi Leave Inter Miami?
Messi’s men are also in with a shot at winning the 2024 Leagues Cup, too — so the opportunities for silverware are strong. And if Inter Miami don’t win the league this year, you can fully expect them to challenge for it again over the next two seasons before Messi eventually decides to hang up his boots in the US.
Messi’s Huge Impact on the MLS
Messi is one of the most expensive stars to ever play in the US. So, from a box office perspective, the pressure has been on him to deliver — and he has. Since 2023, Messi has had a hugely positive impact on the MLS while wearing the iconic pink of Inter Miami. He’s attracted over 100,000+ new subscribers to Apple’s MLS season pass, taking the total number of subscribers to over 2 million. When it comes to ticket sales, StubHub reports that the arrival of Messi has also led to an x7 ticket sales increase across the entire MLS, with in-game attendances higher than they’ve ever been. On top of this, Inter Miami’s value has doubled to over $1 billion since 2023, which can largely be credited to Messi’s presence and global brand power. Exciting new players are arriving every year, and the MLS is now being taken seriously on the global soccer stage. None of this would have been possible if Messi hadn’t signed his name on the dotted line.
What is Messi’s International Future with Argentina?
“I am a bit scared of it all ending,” – Messi to ESPN Argentina, 2024.
The strong belief is that Messi will keep playing for Argentina until the 2026 World Cup. This is especially likely following Argentina’s 2024 Copa America, which was Messi’s 45th overall career trophy and Argentina’s third consecutive international trophy on the bounce. With some fuel still left in the tank and the fact that the 2026 World Cup is taking place in the US, where Messi currently plays for Inter Miami, all signs point to the “GOAT” featuring at the iconic tournament, even though he will be 39 years old by the time it arrives. And if Messi is to feature for Argentina in 2026, it will likely be in a reduced playing role, which will see him make appearances from the bench while also occasionally making the starting 11.
Will Messi Ever Return to Barcelona?
In terms of playing capacity, the odds of Messi ever returning to La Liga to play for Barcelona are extremely slim.
The likelihood is that Messi will instead finish his playing career with Inter Miami before wrapping everything up with Argentina on the biggest stage of them all: the 2026 World Cup. However, Barcelona fans can still rejoice, as it’s highly likely that Messi will receive a testimonial “farewell game” from Barcelona when he officially confirms his retirement, which will almost certainly be in 2026 or 2027. This testimonial game would likely feature a mix of new and old players who have featured throughout Messi’s career, so it will be a great spectacle to witness. In the meantime, several other big players are retiring from soccer this year — but Messi certainly isn’t one of them.
Summary: Messi’s Inter Miami Future and More
Despite not being the player he once was, Messi still has a lot to offer. This is why it’s almost a certainty that he’ll be sticking around with Inter Miami for a couple more years to come, along with his teammates Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Matías Rojas. A return to Barcelona or any other club in Europe is extremely unlikely, so you can expect Messi to see out the remainder of his contract before eventually retiring from club and international football in 2026.
