Lionel Messi moved out of Europe after playing about two decades there in 2023. Despite rumours that he can move to Saudi Arabia, re-igniting his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi chose the destination of USA, starting a new phase of his career with Inter Miami, a Major League Soccer club co-owned by former footballing legend, David Beckham. Messi had a pretty good outing with Inter Miami in the past two seasons and with time he has also settled in his life in USA. 2021 and 2022 were two years which brough completely contrasting experiences to the footballing legend as he had to leave Barcelona but at the same time he also found success with Argentina winning the Copa America and the FIFA World Cup. As Messi gradually near the dusk of his career, he hints at his possible retirement. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez Top List of Best-Selling Jersey in MLS, Inter Miami Stars Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets Make into Top 25.
Speaking to ESPN for an interview to air Wednesday, Messi said the triumph in FIFA World Cup 2022 gave him new perspective on his career. "I've done this all of my life; I love playing ball. I enjoy the practices and the day-to-day, the games. Yeah, there's a bit of fear that it's all ending. It's always there. It was a difficult step leaving Europe to come here [Inter Miami]," he said. The fact we won the World Cup helped, it helped a lot, to see things in another way. But I try not to think about it. I try to enjoy it. I do that more now because I'm aware that there's not a lot of time left. So I have a good time with the club, being lucky having good teammates and friends at my side. I enjoy my time with the national team, where I also have good friends, too, and a lot. I enjoy those small details that I know I'll miss when I stop playing." Inter Miami Star Lionel Messi Launches New Sports Drink Mas+.
Asked if Inter Miami would be his last team, Messi replied: “Yes, yes, I think so. Today I think it's going to be my last club.” When asked about his future in the Argentina jersey and whether he would play in the next FIFA World Cup, Messi replied, “It depends on how I feel, how I am physically and being realistic with myself. And to know if I am up to the task of being able to compete and help the colleagues next to me,” Messi said last week to Infobae.com. “There's a while left and I don't know how I'm going to be at that moment.”
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 13, 2024 12:23 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).