Lionel Messi revealed that Inter Miami will be his "last club" as he acknowledged that "there's not a lot of time left" in his illustrious career.
The 36-year-old football legend joined Inter Miami last summer, ending his two-decade-long career in Europe where he starred for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, has made a significant impact at Inter Miami, scoring 14 goals in all competitions and helping the team to the top of the Eastern Conference this season. He has been reunited with former Barcelona teammates Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba in Miami.
In an exclusive interview with ESPN Argentina, Messi shared, "I think it's going to be my last club." Reflecting on his career, he noted the importance of his recent achievements and the close of his playing days. "I've done this all of my life; I love playing ball. I enjoy the practices and the day-to-day, the games. Yeah, there's a bit of fear that it's all ending. It's always there. It was a difficult step leaving Europe to come here [Miami]."
The World Cup victory with Argentina in 2022 has given Messi a new perspective on his career. "The fact we won the World Cup helped, it helped a lot, to see things in another way. But I try not to think about it. I try to enjoy it. I do that more now because I'm aware that there's not a lot of time left. So I have a good time with the club, being lucky having good teammates and friends at my side," he said.
Messi's career has been nothing short of extraordinary. He is Barcelona's top scorer with 672 goals and accumulated 32 goals and 35 assists during his two seasons at PSG. Over his career, Messi has won 40 trophies for club and country, including four Champions League titles and a Copa América.
Despite recent injuries that sidelined him from Argentina's matches against El Salvador and Costa Rica in March, Messi remains a vital part of the national team. He marked his return to international play with a win over Ecuador on Sunday. "Argentina is always a favorite and a contender, at Copa America as well as in World Cups," Messi said. "We're more of a favorite now because of where we're coming from, having won the last Copa America, the Finalissima, and the World Cup — and because of the group of players we have."
Messi praised his teammates' dedication and hunger for victory. "I've been training for a few days and what never fails to surprise me is how they practice, the guys' attitude, the desire to win, the hunger to keep winning. It's going to be a difficult Copa America, very balanced as it's always been, but we have a good chance to again be among the best," he concluded.
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