The Major League Soccer season for Lionel Messi is concluded. What will happen to the Argentine World Cup champion in the US next?
A hectic 2025 and perhaps the 2026 World Cup? Undoubtedly, such is the hope.
Is Messi about to retire? It’s closer than we realize, but not yet.
Messi illustrious career is coming to an end. He has a deal with Inter Miami that expires until 2025. He has not committed to competing in the upcoming World Cup when he is 39, and he will turn 38 in June.
In 2024, there would likely be exhaustion, injuries, and possibly a historic upset. For him, they will undoubtedly be discussed once more in the upcoming year or two.
Messi posted on Instagram on Monday, saying, “A season ended in which we continued to grow as a club and, although we achieved some goals, we wanted more.” “We appreciate everyone who came and helped us. Let’s prepare to return stronger the next year.
On Saturday, Atlanta United defeated Messi and Inter Miami in the opening round of the MLS Cup playoffs. It was a bitter way to cap off Messi first full season with the team and one of the greatest upsets in league history.
Despite Inter Miami’s elimination in the first round of the playoffs, Messi remains one of the best players in history. However, his failure to win the MLS Cup to top off a great MLS season is clearly a weakness for him, Inter Miami, the league, and business partners like Apple TV.
Messi will assist Argentina earn a spot in the next World Cup by playing the remaining two games of his season. Argentina will host Peru on Tuesday after visiting Paraguay on Wednesday. After that, Messi offseason starts, and the MLS Cup Playoffs go on without him.
The countdown is on for Inter Miami. The squad, which is co-owned by David Beckham and brothers Jorge and Jose Mas, had already committed to 2024 after acquiring players to cover for Messi and keep the team moving while he wasn’t there. This season, they took home two championships: the MLS Supporters’ Shield and the 2023 Leagues Cup. Next year, will they be able to discover the same magic?
Luis Suarez is negotiating a contract to come back. Sergio Busquets will probably run it back if the others are, and Jordi Alba wants to go back. When Neymar’s contract with Saudi giant Al-Hilal ends next summer, he may get back together with his fellow former Barcelona players.
Other than World Cup qualifying next year, Messi won’t have any significant national team commitments. Inter Miami will participate in the Leagues Cup, the Club World Cup, the Concacaf Champions Cup, and the 2025 MLS championship game. Inter Miami has five opportunities to win titles, including another Supporters Shield pursuit.
In reference to joining Inter Miami, Messi stated, “The step I wanted to take here did not mean a retirement far from it.” “We came to help with the growth [and] winning titles … to continue making this club great.”
Messi is obviously nearing the end of his playing days, though. Although he had moments of genius, he faltered during the year’s most crucial games.
Messi participated in five of the six Copa America games and scored one goal. In the quarterfinal match against Ecuador, he attempted to chip a shot down the middle that went past the post and onto the net, but he missed the penalty kick.
In the championship match versus Columbia, he also attempted to play with a right ankle injury. When he exited the game in the second half, his ankle swelled like a softball, and he grieved on the bench in sadness.
Messi and Argentina won their second consecutive Copa America final thanks to the efforts of his teammates, including standout goaltender Dibu Martinez, who shut down the competition. Lautaro Martinez also scored the game-winning goal in the final.
On May 4 of the MLS season, Messi recorded five assists and one goal against the New York Red Bulls. He helped Miami capture the Supporters’ Shield on October 2 by scoring twice against the defending champion Columbus Crew. Just before the playoffs, he even got two hat tricks in a week: one for Argentina and one in Inter Miami’s season finale to secure the MLS points record.
However, Messi season ended in an unexpected manner as he only managed one goal and one assist in the first three MLS postseason games of his career.
Rob Valentino, the interim coach for Atlanta, inspired his players with the motto “nothing to lose, everything to win.” Brad Guzan of Atlanta, who made 17 saves and was unbeatable throughout the series, was the player who responded the most.
Busquets, the renowned midfielder who spent the most of the season playing centerback, was also absent from much of Inter Miami’s final two games in the series. One day before the game, on Saturday, he was allowed to participate in the final after taking a knock that left him with symptoms similar to pneumonia.
Due to Busquets’ injury, Drake Callender, the goaltender for Inter Miami, was left defensively alone, which did not bode well for the team. Atlanta won the series 6-5 after outscoring Inter Miami 5-2 in the last two games.
But there was a noticeable difference between Atlanta and Inter Miami. Messi and Suarez were two of Inter Miami’s MVP contenders. Atlanta, which is ranked 23rd out of 29 MLS teams with a payroll of $15.2 million, is less than Messi $20.46 million contract alone. The biggest difference in MLS postseason history was the 34 points that separated them in the standings.
“Winning and moving on are the expectations. And it hurts a lot when it doesn’t occur. After the defeat, Callender remarked, “I believe that’s what we are going through.”
Messi has spent the latter years of his career in Major League Soccer and the United States, and his accomplishments are still captivating regardless of whether he wins another championship with Inter Miami.
The most viewed sporting event on Apple TV was Inter Miami’s first playoff game.
Inter Miami has become a global brand because to Messi, who owns the top-selling shirt for adidas in both the MLS and the world.
This season saw more in-person attendance at MLS games than any other in the league’s 30-year history. The league also saw increases in corporate sponsorships and social media engagement.
After the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, Inter Miami is now the most followed North American sports team on TikTok (10.2 million followers) and Instagram (17.2 million followers).
With his own drink, fragrance, action-hero figurine, and menu with Hard Rock, as well as other commercial collaborations like adidas, Michelob Ultra, Lays, and Lowe’s, to mention a few, Messi personal pursuits are still flourishing.
Yes, Messi business is doing well and will continue to do so.
However, the opportunity is closing.
Even Messi most devoted supporters are unsure of how long he has left.
In regards to Messi future, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino remarked, “To be honest, I don’t know how limited.Time goes by, and it’s obviously coming, but I wouldn’t say it will happen anytime soon.”
