Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has opened up about his future, the 2026 World Cup, and his ambitions with Inter Miami in an exclusive interview on Thursday with Fabrizio Romano for 433.
Despite his extensive and celebrated football career, Messi has clarified that coaching is not in his future plans.
“I wouldn’t like to be a coach,” Messi stated. “But I’m still not sure what I’d like to do in the future. I value much more than before everything I do on a day-to-day basis, so I just think about playing, training, and having fun.”
Messi also addressed the possibility of competing in the 2026 World Cup. While he remains undecided, he emphasized a day-to-day approach.
“The truth is that I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve been asked several times, especially in Argentina. I hope to have a good end of the season and then a good pre-season. From there, I want to see what happens, to realize how I feel. There’s still a long way to go, so I’m not thinking too much about it.”
Reflecting on his legacy, Messi expressed gratitude for his career achievements, including winning the World Cup and numerous titles with Barcelona and the Argentine national team.
“Let people remember me as they want. My biggest dream was to win the World Cup, which I fought for a long time and which cost me a lot of effort,” Messi shared. “I am very grateful to God for everything I have been through.”
Messi also touched on his goals with Inter Miami, who recently concluded the regular season with a strong finish.
“We were happy and celebrated the achievement because it was something difficult and important,” Messi remarked. “The real title we want is the MLS. During the year, we had many very silly mistakes that we can avoid. I think we are one of the favourites. The other teams also respect us.”
In discussing the club’s trajectory, Messi noted Inter Miami’s growth-focused philosophy.
“The club does not set limits; that is the philosophy,” he said. “We have to keep growing in order to be great within the MLS and, why not, within the world.”