The world surrounding Lionel Messi is full of speculation – certainly nothing new to a superstar athlete of his caliber.
Messi has been in the United States for two years with Inter Miami, thousands of kilometers from his native country, Argentina, where a media frenzy who accompanied every movement of his was often toxic until 2022. After Messi led his nation to the glory of the World Cup in Qatar that year, the reports became much more friendly, but this did not prevent many in their homeland continued to be speculated about how their latter was speculated about how their last. years as a professional soccer player could unfold.
Within 24 hours after the elimination of the Club World Cup Inter Miami, Messi’s future with his MLS club has become a discussion theme. Commentators in Argentina raised the hypothesis that the star at the age of 38 would consider leaving MLS for a more competitive league. And, according to at least one report, contractual negotiations between Messi and Miami had stagnated.
It is true that Messi’s contract with Miami expires at the end of 2025 and that he has not signed a renewal. But it is still expected to extend his stay at MLS at least until 2026, according to one person close to the player, speaking anonymously to protect relationships.
In the world of Messi, however, it doesn’t take much to shake the waters.
Even before the Club World Cup, and after Miami had conceded 15 goals in five matches in May, Argentine columnist and announcer Ariel Senosiain described Messi’s club as “a franchise that doesn’t even remotely do justice to his incomparable career.”
Senosiain’s theory was that Messi’s competitive spirit, which sometimes in 2025 seemed more discontent, is the result of the “lack of excellence around it,” which in turn affected his mindset within a less competitive environment. Senosiain pondered if Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was worried about Messi’s situation inside a Miami locker room that is “cold” compared to the family environment of current world champions.
Other reporters in Argentina suggested that the Newell’s Old Boys, Messi’s childhood club, would be the player’s favorite destination. But Newell’s ended ninth in the last Aperte tournament after ending in 25th in the final classification of the first division in 2024. This is hardly a more competitive environment, considering that Miami has won a trophy or competed among the best MLs teams since the arrival of Messi.
In addition, the quality of the first Argentine division has decreased considerably in the last decade. Brazilian clubs are the powers in South America, as evidenced during this Club World Cup. Palmeiras and Fluminense advanced to the quarterfinals, while Boca Juniors and River Plate, the largest clubs in Argentina, were eliminated in the group stage.
Argentine football is still among the most passionate and tensioning competitions in the world. This in itself can raise the level of play. But why did Messi, who played at the highest level of sport for almost two decades, consider leaving the comfort she enjoys in southern Florida for a middle -table club that hasn’t won a trophy since 2013?
It can hurt to Argentines and especially Newell’s fans hear this, but for now, Messi’s club lealities are defined in pink and black.
What about those who yearn for their return to Barcelona? A possible meeting with the Catalan club also gained strength on the internet last week, but this scenario is even more unlikely.
In Miami, Messi surrounded himself with people who trust. This includes his close friends and former Barcelona companions Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suárez. Coach Javier Mascherano is also a former Barcelona and Argentina partner. The owners of the team of Miami Jorge and Jose but and David Beckham are executives and decision makers of the club who have the confidence of Messi – algo that Barcelona president Joan Laporta does not have.
“Honestly, I barely spoke with laps. Perhaps once or twice at most,” Messi told Deportivo in 2023 after revealing to the Spanish media vehicle he would sign with Inter Miami.
Messi has been disagreed with MLS referees and opponents and has seemed annoyed by Miami’s difficulties in 2025. Even so, by not renewing yet, Messi is more likely to be playing the long game and seeking even more influence on his current employer, rather than genuinely being eyeing a way out. It is a basic negotiation tactic.
Last week, Messi’s intimate circle told The Athletic that the Miami captain “knows perfectly perfectly what the goals, motivations and also the challenges of coming to Miami.”
This same person transmitted that Messi understood that Miami is “a young club, which is a new project, and Messi is there to contribute and help.”
Certainly it seems that Messi settled well in Florida. He has been seen in the matches of his children’s Miami Academy Thiago and Ciro, bearing pride alongside his wife Antonella. He is kind when local residents see him in a traffic light. He recently stopped to sign a shirt for a dazzled fan of Miami’s training center. In other words, life is good for the Messi family.
His former club PSG (Paris St.-Germain) gave a good deal of reality on the field with a 4-0 rout in Atlanta, but the fact that Miami was even in the second phase of the Club World Cup was a bit surprising.
“Well, the game was expected,” Messi said after the defeat to PSG. “They are a great team, they are the champions of the latest edition of Champions League. It was the game we expected, we tried to do our best and left a good image at the Club World Cup level.”
In the inaugural match of the competition, Miami had difficulties against Egyptian champion Al Ahly. The game ended 0-0, and after being physically and verbally involved with opposing players, Messi was clearly annoyed as he left the field. A victory against Porto moved everything to Miami, however: Messi’s missing goal led to a 2-1 win, the first time a MLS team defeated a European club in an official competition.
Miami then almost defeated Palmeiras, which would have taken the club to the top of Group A. But Palmeiras recovered from a 2-0 disadvantage to force a draw, and Messi stayed in the central circle after the final whistle, regretting what could have been.
Now Miami is changing her focus back on the regular MLS season and a potential race for the title. It must have been a big change to pass PSG to set up a tactical plan to defeat the Montreal CF.
And yet, Messi remains in contractual negotiations with Inter Miami about an agreement that would keep him in the colors of Miami until the 2026 World Cup and the inauguration of the Miami Freedom Park Stadium.
“The stars are aligning for something big, a beautiful future for the club and Lionel. It’s only his decision,” Jorge told FDP radio in April. “I hope that within 60 to 90 days, we will have to determine all this. My hope has always been – and all we are doing – is seeing Messi playing in our new stadium in 2026. I hope this happens.”
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
