November 2nd 2024.
Lionel Messi, a living legend in the world of football, recently announced that he has no plans of becoming a manager once he retires from playing. The 37-year-old has remained tight-lipped about his future in the sport, but it's safe to say that he is nearing the end of his illustrious career.
Messi's retirement will mark the end of an era, as he has been dominating the sport for the past two decades, solidifying his place as one of the greatest players in history. Throughout his 16-year stint at Barcelona, he has scored a staggering 672 goals in 778 games and has lifted ten La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
While it took some time, Messi has also become a regular winner at the international level, helping Argentina secure the World Cup in 2022 and back-to-back Copa Americas. However, it remains to be seen if he will still be around to defend their World Cup trophy in 2026, as he has admitted that he is uncertain about his future in the sport.
As for what he plans to do after hanging up his boots, Messi is not considering a career in football management like some of his former teammates, including Pep Guardiola, Xavi, Vincent Kompany, and Mikel Arteta, who have all taken on managerial roles. In an interview with Fabrizio Romano for the 433 app, Messi said, "I don't know what I would like to do after I retire. I'm not planning to become a manager. This is not something I'm considering to do. I wouldn't like to be a coach. But everything is not clear yet."
Living in the moment and taking things day by day seems to be Messi's approach as he focuses on playing, training, and having fun on the pitch. When asked about his chances of playing in the 2026 World Cup, he replied, "I don't know. They ask me a lot, especially in Argentina. I hope to finish this year well and start the year with a good preseason, which I didn't have last year due to all the trips we had."
Since joining Inter Miami in the MLS in the summer of 2023, Messi has scored 33 goals in 37 appearances for David Beckham's club. When asked about how he has adapted his game in the American league, Messi shared, "I've changed my style of play because of the moment, the situation, and my age. I am adapting a little bit to everything. I started reinventing myself and adapting to the league, which was new for me. I felt very comfortable from the beginning."
In addition to adapting to a new league, Messi has also helped Inter Miami secure their first trophy, the Leagues Cup, in 2023, after a challenging year for the club. As he looks ahead to the future, Messi is taking things one day at a time, living in the present without thinking too far ahead. "To build a club, you need to win titles. The club was coming off a bad year in MLS, and a little bit after my arrival, we won the Leagues Cup," he said.
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