Lionel Messi's friend leaks his next career move after Inter Miami contract expires

An Argentina-based journalist with connections to Lionel Messi has revealed his plans after his time with Inter Miami comes to an end.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner missed out on a Major League Soccer winner's medal when the Flamingos fell short in the play-offs in 2024 but has one more crack at it before his current contract expires at the end of the 2025 season.

With the 37-year-old's long-term future up in the air, the prospect of a return to Argentina to see out his career has been suggested as a possibility, but journalist Yanina Latorre has been told that Europe is a more likely destination when he leaves Florida.

Latorre is a television, radio and online entertainment reporter from Buenos Aires, and a family friend of Messi's. The World Cup winner has indicated that he'd like to extend his stay in MLS beyond this year but Latorre reported that he hinted at an intention to see out his playing career at Inter Miami before heading back to Europe to live in Barcelona in his football retirement.

"Messi told me that when he finishes his career in Inter Miami he will return to live in Barcelona," said Latorre.

Lionel Messi

"I said to him, 'Aren't you going to stay in Miami?' He said, 'No, no, my place is [Barcelona].'"

Messi joined Barcelona in 2000 and proceeded to build one of football's greatest ever careers there, scoring 672 goals in all competitions in Barcelona jerseys of various stripes. He won the Spanish title ten times and the Champions League four times before moving on to PSG, where he added two more league titles to his impressive collection of trophies.

He joined Inter Miami and they finished top of the overall league standings in the 2024 season but were knocked out early in the post-season play-offs that determine the MLS championship.

Lionel Messi played his last game for Barcelona in 2021 (Image: Getty)

Jorge Mas, who co-owns the club with his brother, Jose, and David Beckham, is the Inter Miami president. He told media that expects Messi to play for the Flamingos in 2026.

"Leo and I will sit down and discuss the future," he said. "The MLS season after a trophy-filled 2025 season, Leo Messi will be our number 10."