Lionel Messi and his future in professional football have once again become a major talking point following recent media reports suggesting a possible end to his career. The claims originated from a specialized outlet, citing an anonymous source regarding a potential retirement timeline. However, neither the Argentine forward nor his current club, Inter Miami, has issued any official confirmation or announcement regarding an early termination of his playing days.
Contract status with Inter Miami
Despite the circulating speculation, Inter Miami has a clear and established position regarding their captain. The American franchise previously confirmed that the legendary player extended his contract to run through the end of the 2028 Major League Soccer season. When the extension was announced, the star expressed his happiness to continue being part of the club's ambitious project, which includes moving to a brand new stadium in 2026. While contracts in football can always be subject to future changes, any talk of an imminent departure requires concrete verification beyond unverified reports from anonymous sources.
International farewell and milestone goals
The recent rumors arrive alongside a confirmed milestone regarding his career with the national team. The legendary attacker has already announced his intention to retire from international duty following the upcoming 2026 World Cup. He is scheduled to play a farewell match wearing the Argentina shirt against Benin on October 6 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. Concluding his international journey does not automatically mean an immediate stop to his club commitments in the United States.
Recent club performances and upcoming matches
On the pitch, the former Barcelona star continues to deliver decisive moments for his American team. In a recent MLS fixture against Columbus Crew, he scored a spectacular free-kick from a tight angle to temporarily level the score, though his side eventually suffered a narrow defeat in stoppage time. This strike marked his 21st league goal of the current campaign. Furthermore, various sports reports place his overall career tally for club and country at 931 goals, leaving him within striking distance of the historic 1,000-goal milestone depending on how long he decides to continue playing.
As things stand, the definitive dates include his upcoming international farewell fixture and his club agreement running until 2028, while a final date for his complete retirement from professional football remains entirely up to the player.
Photo : Bryan Berlin — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
