It's been four years since Leo Messi left FC Barcelona, and his memory remains intact. The Argentine left an open wound among the Barça fans, impossible for many to close. At 37 years old, he is living a different stage, far from the media noise and focused on the immediate future.
Since he arrived at Inter Miami, his priority has been clear: to enjoy soccer and prepare for the 2026 World Cup. In the United States, he has found the stability he didn't have in his last years in Europe. His family, happy with the American lifestyle, also isn't pushing to change the setting.
A perfect setting for the countdown
Messi has a valid contract with Inter Miami until 2026 (2026), a date marked by the World Cup. It's the goal that keeps him active, the last great challenge of an extraordinary career. Not even sentimentality for Barça has been enough to alter his plans.
For months, no one in the Argentine's circle had hinted at the possibility of a return to the old continent. The few times it was mentioned, it was in a symbolic sense, as a tribute or final farewell. However, a recent statement has shaken things up completely.
The bomb didn't come from Leo's circle or from an executive at his current club. It also wasn't a leak from agents or well-informed journalists. The protagonist has been an old acquaintance of Messi, a close friend and former teammate.
The hint that changed everything
The name is Cesc Fàbregas, current coach of Como 1907, a club competing in Italy's Serie A. In a recent interview, he was asked directly if Messi would play with him in Italy. His answer, brief but full of intent, has sparked a storm of speculation.
Fàbregas and Messi have kept a personal relationship that goes beyond soccer for years. Their families have shared summers, celebrations, and long conversations about the future. That's why, when Cesc said "never say never," alarms went off all over Europe.
He didn't do it in a formal or evasive way. He said it with a knowing smile, with that naturalness that only those who speak from closeness have. Like someone who knows something that can't be said out loud yet, but doesn't want to deny it completely.
A scenario that seemed impossible… until now
The club in question is none other than Como 1907, the team Cesc manages in Italy's top division. A modest project, but with strong investment and ambition to grow, located in one of the most exclusive areas in northern Italy. Messi himself has spent several summers there with his family.
Fàbregas's hint has fueled the hypothesis that Messi could have his "last dance" in Europe. Not in Barcelona, not in Paris… but in Como. A quiet destination, without media pressure, ideal for a smooth transition toward definitive retirement.
For now, Leo remains focused on his day-to-day with Inter Miami, where he is the face and soul of the project. In soccer, certainties collapse with a single phrase. When that phrase comes from one of your best friends, nothing is a coincidence.
Because if Messi has shown anything in his career, it's that nothing should ever be considered closed. Maybe that "I'd like to go…" holds more truth than it seemed.