The Argentine’s current contract in Miami ends this year and his next destination is still up in the air.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami continue their 2025 preparations on Wednesday with a trip to Peru to take on Universitario.
The Herons romped to the Supporters' Shield title in 2024 but underwhelmed in the playoffs, bounced by Atlanta United in Round One. Major improvement is expected this year, in what could be Lionel Messi’s final season with the club.
The two-and-a-half-year contract signed by Lionel Messi in the summer of 2023 keeps him at the club until the end of 2025. Although he is thought to have an option to extend for another year, speculation about Messi’s future has already begun.
In an interview with La Nacion, a close family friend of Messi’s revealed where the family are likely to go next. The friend, Argentinian media personality Yanina Latorre, revealed that a return to Barcelona is on the cards.
“He told me that when he finishes here [in Miami], where he is happy, he will return to Barcelona,” she said. Latorre added that she had specifically asked about the prospect of staying in Miami. He reportedly replied: “No, my place is there.”
Will Lionel Messi stay at Inter Miami?
Although Latorre insisted that Messi’s future lies back in Spain, she wasn’t specific about when that big move could be. Although he has a contract break at the end of 2025, there’s one major ambition that may convince him to stay
Argentina will go to the 2026 World Cup as reigning champions and Messi is still an important member of Lionel Scaloni’s squad. Another year at Miami, through the 2026 season, would allow Messi to compete in one final tournament.
Speaking to ESPN recently, Inter Miami co-owner Joge Mas said that he believes that Messi will be lining up for the team in 2026. He explained: “Leo and I will sit and discuss the future. I fully expect that in the opening of our new stadium in 2026, Leo Messi will be our No. 10 after a trophy-laden 2025 season.”
duscdeilpy
26
Come back to barca one last dance give us one more season u deserve it club Legends God bless you messi
putimopruy
13
Cristiano did everything to return to Madrid while Barcelona is doing everything possible to bring Messi back. Barcelona is not a club, it is more than a club, it is a family. The truth is even when you travel your home or family still there for to return to anytime any day. Cristiano after he left Madrid after 6 month at juve when thing backfire begged Perez for a return, after some time he even visited Madrid to try and convince Perez but he was rejected because Madrid is just a club not a family and was the reason he later found himself in Saudi league that he openly condemned at retirement league. Madrid. Barcelona is Messi home, so where is Cristiano's home. Messi will return to camp nou at the appropriate time for sure. Let me ask you, assuming Madrid call Cristiano back today can Cristiano make Madrid first team when he was even a bench warmer at average utd team.