Lionel Messi rules out one career as retirement from football edges closer

11/02/2024 08:02 AM

Lionel Messi has ruled out becoming a football manager after his remarkable playing career comes to an end.

Messi has remained coy about his future in football but at the age of 37 is certainly in the twilight of his career.

His retirement will mark the end of an era as Messi has essentially dominated the sport over the past two decades, establishing himself as one of the best players in history.

During his 16-year spell at Barcelona, Messi scored a staggering 672 goals in 778 games and lifted ten La Liga titles as well as four Champions Leagues.

After a long wait, Messi has also become a regular trophy winner at international level, helping Argentina win the World Cup in 2022 and back-to-back Copa Americas.

It remains to be seen whether Messi will be around to help Argentina defend their World Cup trophy in 2026, with the forward admitting he ‘doesn’t know’ if he will make it to the tournament.

Messi is also unsure what direction he will take after hanging up his boots but insists he will not go down the route of football management.

A host of former players have taken top managerial jobs in recent years – including Pep Guardiola, Xavi, Vincent Kompany and Mikel Arteta – but Messi does not intend to follow suit.

‘I don’t know what I would like to do after I retire,’ Messi told Fabrizio Romano for the 433 app.

‘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. I am someone who likes to live day by day so for now I just think about playing, training and having fun on the pitch.’

Discussing his international future, Messi added: ‘I don’t know [if I will play in the 2026 World Cup], they ask me a lot, especially in Argentina.

‘I hope to finish this year well, and start the year having a good preseason, which I didn’t have last year due to all the trips we had.

‘From there, I will see how I am doing and feeling. We are close, but at the same time it’s a lot of time and anything can happen in football.

‘I don’t think, simply living the day to day without thinking beyond.’

Since the summer of 2023, Messi has been plying his trade in the MLS with Inter Miami, scoring 33 goals in 37 appearances for David Beckham’s club.

Asked how he has adapted his game since arriving in America, Messi said: ‘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 for me was new.

‘I felt very comfortable from the beginning. To build a club you need to win titles. The club was coming off a bad year in MLS [in 2023] and a little bit after my arrival we won Leagues Cup, the first trophy for the club.’

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