Lionel Messi admits, he thinks he will never play in Europe again. On the other hand, the Argentinian is not yet ready to end his career.
It is therefore a player who currently plays in MLS who won the Ballon d’Or. Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami last summer, and a return to Europe is not in his plans. The Argentinian has ruled out the idea of joining FC Barcelona on loan this winter and, barring any surprises, he will never play again on the Old Continent.
“Have I turned the page on European football? Yes, I believe that there, yes, he replies in the columns of France Football. Thanks to God, I was lucky enough to have an extraordinary career, I won everything I dreamed of in Europe, where I played for many years. Now that I’ve taken a step by coming here to the United States, I don’t think I’ll ever come back to play in Europe. Of course I will miss playing in the Champions League or playing in La Liga for the rest of my life, matches with a special flavor. But I enjoyed it as much as I could, so I have no frustration. »
The 2026 World Cup, why not?
Messi will, on the contrary, take advantage of the long winter break offered by MLS. “It has never happened to me in my career to be stopped for so long,” explains the Argentinian, who will be able to calmly “prepare for the Copa America (from June 20 to July 16)”. And so, the now eight-time Ballon d’Or hopes to extend the pleasure on the pitch. “I don’t know how much longer I’ll play, he said. I want to continue until I feel that I can’t do it anymore, that my physical condition no longer allows me to play as I would like. Time will tell us. »
Since he plans to play the 2024 Copa America, does Messi have the 2026 World Cup in mind? Nothing is excluded, even if he can’t promise anything. “ Obviously we always want to play this kind of matches, and even more so after being world champion, he explains. But hey, there’s quite a bit of time left until then. Even if it goes by quickly, there are still a few years before the World Cup and I don’t want to look that far ahead. It’s not about being there just to be there, but about feeling good and being able to contribute things to the group. Knowing the age I will be then (39), it seems difficult to me, but we will see how I feel physically. »
