Lionel Messi Reflects On His Career, Future At America Business Summit

Argentine football icon, Lionel Messi has admitted that while thoughts about retirement occasionally cross his mind, he is still focused on enjoying every moment on the pitch before that day eventually comes.

The Inter Miami captain spoke on Wednesday as the closing guest at the America Business Summit, joining a lineup that featured U.S. President, Donald Trump, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Maria Corina Machado, and FIFA President, Gianni Infantino.

Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion with Argentina, shared that he has not spent much time thinking about his legacy just yet.

“It’s not something I’ve thought about or worried about,” Messi said when asked about how he views his career achievements.

“When I retire, as the years go by, obviously I’ll value everything I did in my career and what I achieved professionally much more. But today is the time to keep enjoying myself and to keep playing.”

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who interviewed Messi during the session, presented him with a ceremonial key to the city at the end of their conversation. Messi thanked the people of Miami for their warmth since his arrival.

“It is spectacular, my first time living in this incredible city,” he said. “The affection of all the people from the first day, it was impressive and today is yet another example of the welcome. I’m very grateful.”

Reflecting on Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar, Messi called it the defining moment of his career. “As a player, winning the World Cup, I think it’s the best. After the World Cup, you can’t ask for anything more,” he said.

The 38-year-old striker, who joined Inter Miami in 2023, continues to show his class in Major League Soccer. He finished this season as the league’s top scorer with 29 goals and 19 assists, narrowly missing the all-time record for goal contributions set by Carlos Vela in 2019.

Amid that, Messi acknowledged that his mind is slowly turning toward what comes after football. “Unfortunately, at some point, it ends,” he said. “I want to continue learning. For me, something else is coming, another world, and little by little I am getting involved.”

Messi will return to action this Saturday when Inter Miami take on Nashville SC in a decisive MLS playoff game in Fort Lauderdale.