Lionel Messi Raises Inter Miami Concern Before MLS Playoffs

Lionel Messi put together one of his best individual performances in recent memory during the October international break, but before he left Argentina, he raised an important issue regarding his future at Inter Miami.

Messi scored three goals and provided two assists in Argentina's 6-0 thrashing of Bolivia on Tuesday, setting up what was expected to be a triumphant return to his club, Inter Miami CF, with the MLS Playoffs starting Oct. 25.

Instead, the 37-year-old cast a dark cloud over his future in his post-match interview.

"I am more emotional than ever and taking all the love from the people because I know these can be my last games," Messi said of his Argentina career, listing his club team in the United States as the reason for his doubts.

“I still have to finish the season and start the year doing a good preseason," he said of his upcoming duties with Inter Miami. "Last year I didn’t have one because we had a lot of travel. It was what the club needed at that time but it wasn’t a good preseason.”

Messi & Co. were paraded around the globe for Inter Miami's expansive 2024 preseason tour, covering more than 23,000 miles in three weeks, with matches in El Salvador, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.

"I was thinking about (Copa America) and I took extra care of myself and sometimes that is worse," Messi added in the interview.

Messi missed nine games for club and country in a three-month period between the end of preseason and the start of Copa America 2024.

Although Argentina won the tournament, the amount of soccer began to take a toll on Messi. He exited the final in Miami with an ankle injury that kept him out for two months.

Heading into the MLS Playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, Messi is in top form with eight goals and three assists in his past eight matches. Inter Miami plays its final regular season match on Saturday at home against New England Revolution.

The quotes from the MLS MVP candidate show that he is keenly aware that his time is limited. If Inter Miami want to keep him at this level in the future, including the upcoming playoff run, the preseason schedulers would be wise to heed the words of their captain next year.

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