Messi expects Inter Miami to be final club of career

Lionel Messi aims to finish his professional career with Inter Miami, although retirement is not immediately on the horizon for the soccer legend.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or recipient, now 36, joined Major League Soccer (MLS) team Inter Miami last summer after departing from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Prior to his stint with PSG, Messi enjoyed a highly successful career at Barcelona, where he secured four Champions League titles and ten La Liga championships.

Having won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, Messi has a contract with Inter Miami that extends until 2025, with an option to extend for an additional year.

“As of today, I think it’s going to be my last club,” Messi told ESPN. “I’m not ready to leave football either,” he added.

Despite nearing the end of his career, Messi’s performance remains stellar, with 12 goals and 13 assists in 12 matches this season for the MLS leaders.

Messi’s focus will soon shift to the Copa America, where he aims to help Argentina defend their 2021 title. The tournament will be held in the United States, which Messi has called home for the past year.

“It was a difficult step to leave Europe to come here,” Messi said. “The fact of having been world champion helped a lot to see things differently also.”

“I love playing football. I enjoy the training, every day of the matches. [I am] a little afraid that everything will end,” he continued. “That’s why I enjoy everything much more, because I’m aware that there’s less and less to go and I have a good time at the club. I enjoy the little details that I know I’m going to miss when I don’t play any more.”