Lionel Messi remains the media epicenter of world soccer, even from South Florida. At 37 years old, the Argentine star leads Inter Miami, a team he transformed with his arrival in the summer of 2023. However, his future is once again in question after an enigmatic response that has set off alarms.
At the end of the last MLS match, Messi was questioned about his continuity at the American club. His response, brief but forceful, has reignited rumors. A statement that has caused a flood of interpretations in international media and within Inter Miami's environment.
A contract that comes to an end
The North American league is played in a calendar year, which means that Messi's contract expires in December 2025. Although the Argentine's performance remains exceptional, there is no signed agreement to extend his contract. There are not even any public negotiations underway.
This situation opens multiple scenarios, all of them uncertain. In Miami, they recognize the impact of having Messi on the team, both at a sporting and commercial level. But they also know that the player prioritizes his physical condition and his preparation for the next big challenge: the 2026 World Cup.
Leo Messi | @leomessi
Since his arrival, Inter Miami has undergone a radical transformation. Messi has changed the locker room culture and the team's competitive level. Around him, old acquaintances like Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suárez have joined, bringing experience and quality.
The club wants to keep him. The goal is to convince him before the end of the season, but time is against them. Media pressure increases with each match, and any defeat—like the recent one against Orlando City—reopens the conversation about his future.
Inter Miami | @5sergiob
The phrase that unleashes the storm
It was during a post-match interview when Messi dropped that phrase that changes everything. He was asked directly if there were any updates on his renewal. His response, without detours or nuances, was as brief as it was unsettling.
"I don't know anything", he said in front of the cameras. Three words that can mean many things or absolutely nothing. But coming from Messi, they are enough to set off alarms and fuel all kinds of speculations, especially in Barcelona.
The possibility of one last return home has never completely disappeared. Although it seems distant, the option of Messi returning to FC Barcelona for a symbolic farewell always hovers around the culé environment. Even more so when the player himself avoids closing doors.
In the Catalan club, they are aware that they can't offer him the regularity he needs to be in good shape for the World Cup. But they also know that any gesture from Messi can reignite the excitement of a fanbase that never stopped longing for him.
Messi with Barça | en.carpetasfcb.com
The 2026 World Cup: Messi's big goal
Beyond contracts and emotions, Messi's focus is on the World Cup to be played in 2026. The United States, Mexico, and Canada will host his hypothetical last major event with the Argentine national team.
He himself has hinted that he wants to be in good shape, competing at the highest level. To achieve this, he needs minutes and continuity, something that is guaranteed in Miami but not necessarily in Barcelona. That is the main barrier to a return, no matter how much the heart pushes in another direction.
A season finale under the sign of uncertainty
In the absence of an official announcement, Messi's future will remain a hot topic week after week. Every performance, every statement, and every move will be analyzed in detail.
As long as there is no renewal, the shadow of farewell will hover over Inter Miami. Meanwhile, the ties with Barça will keep resurfacing, fueled by the mutual desire to close a cycle as it deserves. But the competitive reality, physical demands, and international calendar impose their own logic.
Messi at Barça | @FCBarcelona
Leo Messi faces, perhaps, one of the most personal decisions of his professional career. To stay at the club that welcomed him with affection and where he is happy, or to return one last time to the place where it all began.
For now, the only certainty is his silence. And in Messi's case, even silence is news. Meanwhile, Miami awaits a response and Barcelona, in silence, keeps dreaming.
