What Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami Contract Means For 2026 World Cup Involvement—report

Lionel Messi’s determination to widen his enactment astatine Inter Miami until 2028 does not needfully mean that he will correspond Argentina astatine this summer’s World Cup, a study has claimed.

The 38-year-old guardant brought a merciful extremity to nan long-running speculation surrounding his contractual position astatine nine level aft announcing a caller three-year deal connected Thursday. As Inter Miami were keen to constituent out, this hold ensures that Messi will beryllium capable to return halfway shape for nan unveiling of nan club’s caller $1 cardinal stadium successful 2026.

That twelvemonth besides brings nan mini matter of nan World Cup, which will beryllium co-hosted by nan United States.

Heading into nan 2022 tourney successful Qatar, Messi insisted that it would beryllium his past world outing. Yet, Argentina’s triumph successful nan Middle East, coupled pinch nan clear joyousness Messi reaps from playing pinch a squad which grew up adoring him, has prolonged his enactment connected nan world stage.

Argentina’s skipper led his federation to a 2nd successive Copa América triumph successful nan U.S. successful 2024 and remained a cardinal fig passim nan precocious concluded World Cup qualification. At nan extremity of that process, which was wrapped up pinch a tearful Messi nabbing a brace against Venezuela successful Buenos Aires, nan seasoned skipper revealed that he had played his last competitory fixture connected Argentinian soil.

Messi is yet to travel to a definitive determination astir his information successful nan tourney proper, The Athletic claims.

Whether he embarks upon nan defense of Argentina’s world title is thought to dangle upon 2 cardinal factors; desire and durability. Will he beryllium fresh capable to lead his state against nan world’s toughest nations and will he person nan hunger to do so? That determination is expected to beryllium taken acold person to nan tournament.

Earlier this year, Messi outlined his thought process. “I’ll proceed arsenic I person been, taking it time by day, trying to consciousness good, and supra all, being honorable pinch myself. When I consciousness good, I bask it. And if I’m not good, I person a bad clip and I’d alternatively not beryllium there. I’ll see.”

Lionel Messi is staying astatine Inter Miami for 3 much years. / Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images

After 2 decades spent preparing for world tournaments pinch nan fixture-crammed schedules of European seasons, Messi will really beryllium afforded immoderate respite up of nan 2026 World Cup—should he take to go.

The calendar-year format of MLS ensures that location is astir 3 months of inaction for players complete nan move of nan year. After nan playoffs are wrapped up pinch MLS Cup connected Dec. 6, nan 2026 regular play is not expected to get underway until February.

While different precocious floor plan stars person taken this arsenic an opportunity for short-term indebtedness spells backmost connected nan continent—David Beckham and Thierry Henry astir notably went backmost to AC Milan and Arsenal respectively—Messi whitethorn beryllium grateful for nan rest.

The reigning world champion will move 39 during adjacent summer’s World Cup. Should he scope different final, he would become nan eighth oldest outfield antheral subordinate to ever characteristic successful nan competition. Any break will surely beryllium warmly received.

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