Lionel Messi has offered some insight into what life after arguably the greatest playing career in history may hold.
After 19 seasons playing and dominating in Europe, Messi moved to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer in July, beginning what he described as a “decompression”.
Having already won every club medal available during his time at Barcelona, Messi cemented his legacy as the greatest player of the modern era – if not of all time – by guiding Argentina to the nation’s first World Cup title since Diego Maradona lifted the trophy in 1986.
Messi made a faultless start to life in Miami, scoring in his first seven appearances for the club, which is part-owned by David Beckham, to help win the Leagues Cup in August.
However, a punishing schedule has begun to catch up to the 36-year-old. Messi missed consecutive matches for Argentina and Miami with fatigue in September and limped off against Toronto FC, putting his availability for the imminent US Open Cup final in doubt.
After more than 1,000 games and 800 goals, Messi reflected on his career and the future in an interview with Migue Granados on OLGA.
“Yes, it is a job,” Messi said of professional football. “I am lucky to do a job that I love. Although I have responsibilities and a goal, it is still something that I enjoy doing. What am I going to do next? I don’t know. I would like to be a sporting director, be with the kids, teach.”
In October 2022, Messi also outlined his desire to become a sporting director while stressing: “I don’t really intend to be a coach.” Although, he did concede: “But [Zinedine] Zidane said exactly that and after that, he became a coach and won the Champions League three times.”
Back then, Messi was “sure” that the 2022 World Cup would be his final international tournament. However, winning the global crown has forced Messi into a less definitive view of his participation in 2026, when the competition will be held across the US, Canada and Mexico, and convinced him to defend Argentina’s Copa America crown next summer.
When quizzed about his involvement in four years’ time, Messi said: “I haven’t thought about it yet, it’s far away. I do think about the Copa America, I want to do well. It’s just being played here in the United States. It’s going to be nice, we’ve already had the [Copa America] Centenario that was also played here [in 2016]. Although we lost the final, the process was very nice. Later, you’ll see how I feel. “
Yet, before any international tournaments or future scouting trips, Messi still has a contract with Miami until the end of 2025.
Messi turned down Al Hilal’s advances and couldn’t come to an agreement with Barcelona last summer before opting for MLS. “The idea was to start decompressing a little after so many years of [my] career,” Messi explained, “to enjoy somewhere else. And I am.”
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