Should Lionel Messi Leave Inter Miami?

Lionel Messi’s American adventure has been a spectacle in itself. Since coming to Miami back in 2023, the Argentine icon has delivered magic week after week, bagging the 2024 MLS MVP, filling stadiums, and inspiring a team that once seemed lost in the shuffle. He’s turned Inter Miami into a global headline, and it’s hard to imagine the club without him now.

With his current deal set to expire in December 2025 (with an option to extend for 2026), the question is, is it time for Messi to consider one final challenge, or is Miami truly his last footballing home?

Why Miami Still Feels Right

If you take away all the noise and rumors, Messi’s life in Miami ticks just about every box. From a football perspective, MLS offers the kind of balance that suits him at this stage in his career. It’s competitive without being competitive. He’s not running himself into the ground every three days like in Europe. The league schedule gives him breathing space, precisely what a 38-year-old footballer needs in this career stage. 

Inter Miami is basically perfect for him. His closest friends and former teammates, Busquets, Alba, and Suarez, are all there. The entire setup revolves around Messi, not just as a player but as a brand, a personality, and a symbol. The club and the league are all-in on making the Messi era a lasting legacy.

Off the field? Miami fits him like a glove. The city is vibrant, multicultural, and heavily Latino, basically South America with palm trees and skyscrapers. His family loves it, which is the most important aspect for The Argentine. His business ventures are thriving here, and he’s even got a piece of the club itself. Inter Miami’s upcoming Freedom Park stadium, set to open in 2026, could easily become the house that Messi built.

Is There Anything That Could Lure Him Away?

Temptations, of course, are never far from a name like Messi. Saudi Arabia has been knocking for a while now, with clubs like Al-Ahli reportedly making  an eye-watering offer for him. Messi hasn’t shown any real desire to follow Cristiano Ronaldo down that path. The lifestyle, the playing level, it just doesn’t seem like his vibe.

Then there’s Europe. Whispers of a Premier League loan or a last dance at Barcelona make headlines every few months. Nostalgia is a powerful drug, and we all know how deep Messi’s love for Barça runs. If they somehow pulled it off, it would break the internet. Let’s be real, Barcelona are still financially handcuffed, and Messi playing there for free isn’t happening.

A move to Argentina? Maybe one day. He’s often spoken about playing for Newell’s Old Boys, his boyhood club, but even that feels more like a fairy tale than a genuine plan. For now, nothing offers the mix of comfort, competition, and ambition that Inter Miami does.

Could Rodrigo De Paul Be the Game-Changer?

Now, here’s where things get interesting. Inter Miami are making a serious push to sign Rodrigo De Paul from Atlético Madrid. He’s not just one of the best midfielders in the world on his day, he’s also one of Messi’s closest friends in the Argentina squad. They’ve been inseparable on international duty, and the chemistry they share is evident.

De Paul wouldn’t come cheap. Reports suggest a fee in the region of €12 to €15 million. Miami would need to do some roster gymnastics to fit him in, likely freeing up a Designated Player slot, which could mean parting ways with someone like Busquets. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about this club, it’s that when Messi wants something, they find a way.

De Paul himself has said he wouldn’t make the move unless Messi stayed in Miami, which tells you everything about how closely their futures are linked. If this signing happens, it’s not just about adding quality to the midfield. It’s about how they’re building something long-term around Messi, not just squeezing out the last drops of his career.

How Much Time Does Messi Really Have Left?

That’s the million-dollar question. At 38, Messi’s not going to be around forever, but he’s also not exactly fading away. If he manages his minutes, and MLS allows him to do just that, there’s no reason he can’t keep playing until at least the 2026 World Cup. To be honest, that tournament does feel like the perfect final curtain.

If he stays through 2026, especially with the new stadium opening and the World Cup in the U.S., what more could he ask for? It’s a storybook ending; sometimes, the smartest move is to recognize when you’re already living it.

Final Thoughts

Truthfully, there’s no real reason for Lionel Messi to leave Inter Miami. The city suits his lifestyle, the club is built around him, and he’s still capable of playing beautiful football without the constant wear and tear of Europe. Saudi Arabia might have deeper pockets, and Barcelona might tug on the heartstrings, but neither offers what Miami does right now. Throw in the possible arrival of De Paul, and you have a team that could dominate MLS while keeping Messi surrounded by people he trusts and thrives with.