Lionel Messi may be entering a crucial stretch of games for Inter Miami, but the Argentine star has already decided when he will leave the club and the U.S. Reports suggest Messi plans to return to his homeland, joining his boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys when his contract with Miami expires in December 2025. This would leave him with just one full season left in Major League Soccer.
Messi joined David Beckham’s star-studded Inter Miami squad in July 2023, a move that was seen as a huge win for MLS. Since his arrival, Messi has transformed the league’s competitiveness and turned around Miami’s fortunes. Although the Herons missed out on the playoffs in his first season, Messi led them to their first trophy and they now top the standings with only four games remaining.
However, his time in North America seems to be ticking down. According to *El Nacional*, the 37-year-old will join Newell’s Old Boys after his current contract ends. Messi has long expressed interest in returning to Newell’s, where he spent five years of his youth career from 1995 to 2000. In a 2016 interview, he told *El Planeta Urbano*: “If I return to Argentina, I’d play for Newell’s.”
While Messi has since been more cautious about confirming such a move, citing concerns about safety in Argentina, he hasn’t ruled it out. He once told *TyC Sports*: “My dream is to play at Newell’s, but I don’t know what will happen. Part of that uncertainty is due to the situation in Argentina. I want my children to grow up in a safe environment.”
Despite his reservations about returning, it appears the former PSG star is destined to finish his career in Argentina. Messi made his comeback for Inter Miami last weekend, playing for the first time since suffering an ankle injury during the Copa América final in July while representing Argentina.
In just 30 minutes of play, he scored twice against the Philadelphia Union. Miami’s 3-1 victory brought Messi’s season totals to 14 MLS goals and 14 assists, an impressive achievement considering he has missed a significant part of the season due to injury.
With 64 points, Miami holds a commanding nine-point lead over second-placed FC Cincinnati. With only weeks left in the season, the club will be focused on securing the Supporter’s Shield.
Should Miami win the title, it would be the second trophy Messi has brought to the club, following his leadership in capturing the Leagues Cup last year. Since his arrival, it’s not only Miami fans who have embraced the soccer legend, but the entire country as well.
From receiving rock star-like welcomes at stadiums across the U.S. to leading in shirt sales, the American public has fully embraced the World Cup winner since his arrival in MLS. It’s estimated that Messi earns between $50 million and $60 million annually in the league, with his contract also including lucrative deals with partners like Apple and Adidas.
However, despite the financial rewards, Messi may feel that returning to the country he left at 13 could be the most fitting way to close out his career. After departing his hometown of Rosario as a teenager, Messi joined Barcelona, where his legendary career took shape. A return to Newell’s Old Boys would not only bring his career full circle but solidify his hero status in Argentina.
Considering the rapturous reception he received earlier this year during Maxi Rodriguez’s testimonial at Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, a return to his birthplace seems like an obvious choice for the iconic forward.
