2024, JUNE 12 – Lionel Messi has announced that Inter Miami CF will be his “last club,” acknowledging that his illustrious career is nearing its end.
Having joined Inter Miami last summer, the 36-year-old concluded his 20-year tenure in Europe, where he shined for FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has already scored 14 goals in all competitions for an Inter Miami team currently topping the Eastern Conference. Reunited with his former Barcelona teammates Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, Messi revealed in an exclusive interview with ESPN Argentina that he believes “it’s going to be my last club.”
Messi, who holds Barcelona’s all-time scoring record with 672 goals, also left a mark at PSG, netting 32 goals and providing 35 assists in two seasons. His illustrious career includes winning 40 trophies for club and country, including four UEFA Champions League titles and a Copa América. The highlight of his career came with Argentina‘s FIFA World Cup win in 2022, which he says gave him a new perspective on his playing days.
“I’ve done this all my life; I love playing ball. I enjoy the practices, the day-to-day, the games. Yeah, there’s a bit of fear that it’s all ending. It’s always there. It was a difficult step leaving Europe to come here [Miami],” Messi shared.
“Winning the World Cup helped, a lot, to see things in another way. But I try not to think about it. I try to enjoy it. I do that more now because I’m aware there’s not a lot of time left. So I have a good time with the club, being lucky to have good teammates and friends at my side.
“I enjoy my time with the national team, where I also have good friends. I enjoy those small details I know I’ll miss when I stop playing.”
Despite injuries keeping Messi out of Argentina’s matches against El Salvador and Costa Rica in March, he remains crucial to their efforts to retain the Copa América this summer. He made a triumphant return to international play with a win over Ecuador on Sunday.
