Inter Miami is done for the season. Although the team managed to pull it together since August, its season got off to a bad start and the team wasn't able to make a comeback. The team won't qualify for the playoffs, even though there is still one game remaining. Now that Argentine Gerardo Tata Martino's team's season is about to end, many people wonder what Leo Messi will do during his time off from the Florida franchise.
Messi's dream of going back to Barcelona
After the last game he played with the Argentine national team, Messi spoke to TyC Sports and confirmed what he will do in the months in which he is not playing with Inter Miami:
The month of July was very hard for us, we played every three days, we traveled but we won a tournament, which is important for the club and for what is coming next year. I will train, I will play our upcoming match [against Charlotte FC] and I will try to get here [to the national team] in the best possible way for November. After that, I will enjoy the holidays in Argentina. It's the first time that I am going to have more days off in December, with the holidays, with peace of mind, with my people. In January, I will return again to do preseason. Start from scratch and prepare as best as possible as always.
In Spain, more specifically in Barcelona, there have been rumors that Messi would return to the club that gave him the opportunity to go professional, the same club where he won most of his victories and titles. Of course, he would be on loan. FC Barcelona and its fans dream of getting the Argentine back again.
Barcelona says that Messi will wear his jersey again in the future
In statements made to the Brazilian media Lance!, the former soccer player and current Barcelona sports director, Deco, confirmed that Messi will wear the Barça jersey again in the future, in a farewell match that will be held for him, although he did not specify the exact date:
I think there will be a farewell match, but maybe in the new stadium when it's ready. He will always be the biggest idol in the club's history. The club has had great idols, like Cruyff, Ronaldo, but he is perhaps the greatest of all. He will definitely play a farewell match at Barcelona, but when it will be, we don't know. He is still playing, and hopefully he will play for more years, because people who like soccer, who like him, will be happy to see him happy...
Messi's statistics in his first season in the MLS
After leaving Paris Saint-Germain, there was a lot of talk about Messi's professional future. Some suggested that the Argentine would continue his career in the Saudi soccer league, where many stars have gone. Others thought Messi would return to Barcelona. A few even believed he might surprise Argentine fans in their league. Finally, he decided to compete in the United States with Inter Miami.
In his first year, Messi has played six games in the regular season and he managed to score one goal and had two assists. Messi's contribution was not enough for Inter Miami to climb back in the standings and qualify for the playoffs.
⭐ inMESSIonante ⭐ pic.twitter.com/dswAgBEWVw
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 22, 2023
He played better in other competitions. In the Leagues Cup, he scored ten goals and had one assist in the seven games he played. In this competition he not only had excellent numbers, but he also led Inter Miami to win the title. The Argentine star had the opportunity to win another trophy with his team at the U.S. Open Cup but Houston Dynamo beat him in the tournament final. Messi did not play that match due to muscle problems.
As an individual, he aspires to win the Landon Donovan Award, which honors the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the regular season.
