The Athletic reported that Lionel Messi is very close to renewing his contract with Inter Miami, closing the door on a possible return to Barcelona before retiring.
The Argentine’s current contract with his American club expires at the end of 2025, and it has been reported that he may return for a year or less to conclude his career at Camp Nou and then participate in the 2026 World Cup with Argentina.
According to the latest report, negotiations between Messi and Inter Miami have reached very advanced stages, and almost everything has been agreed upon.
The length of Messi’s new contract has not been revealed, but it is most likely for only one year, extending his stay with Inter Miami until the opening of their new stadium and until the end of 2026.
Thus, the chances of Messi playing again for Barcelona are almost nil, given his previous assertion that 2026 could be his last as a footballer.
Barcelona’s only hope would be to loan Messi for four months, specifically from November until March, between the end of the current MLS season and the start of the next one.
Practically speaking, this doesn’t seem possible, given that the 36-year-old is keen to avoid overexerting himself as much as possible and would prefer to rest and prepare calmly for the next World Cup.
