Inter Miami Strategizing to Bring Lionel Messi Back to Europe
Inter Miami is reportedly making moves to facilitate Lionel Messi’s return to European football.
Lionel Messi played a pivotal role for Inter Miami in their campaign for the MLS Supporters’ Shield last season, and the club’s leadership is now working on retaining the Argentine superstar, especially with his contract with Barcelona expiring in just 12 months.
Inter Miami’s Plans for Messi
According to Marca, Inter Miami is looking to extend Messi’s contract until December 2026, with a provision allowing him to move to a European club on a short-term loan at the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026. This move aims to help Messi maintain his fitness and form before the 2026 World Cup kicks off in June.
Mutually Beneficial Move
This strategy benefits both Messi and Inter Miami. The MLS season concludes in October and resumes at the end of February or early March the following year. During this approximately 5-month period, Messi is likely to want to maintain his match fitness before embarking on his final international campaign—an attempt to defend the World Cup title he won with the Argentine national team in 2022.
Several past stars who have played in the MLS, such as Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane, and Clint Dempsey, have made similar moves. For Messi, this presents an opportunity for the 37-year-old to have a memorable “homecoming” at Barcelona, the club where he established his legendary reputation.
Messi’s Legacy at Barcelona
In his 778 appearances for the Catalan club, Messi scored 672 goals and provided 268 assists, becoming the all-time leading goal scorer and contributing significantly to the club’s illustrious successes. El Pulga secured a total of 35 titles, including 10 La Liga championships, 7 Copa del Rey trophies, 4 Champions League triumphs, and, notably, seven Ballon d’Or awards during his time at Barcelona.
Currently, Messi is preparing for the upcoming season with his teammates at Inter Miami and is expected to play a few friendly matches in the near future.
