In the world of sports, certain names will always loom large. For modern soccer fans, it’s impossible to overlook Lionel Messi. The Argentine superstar might not be the biggest man around, but his resume towers over the competition.
But time waits for no man, and even the greatest athletes will eventually have to call it a career. It’s not clear if Messi is at that point just yet, but the attacker’s age does make the 2025 Club World Cup a bit more relevant.
Let’s break things down.
Will Messi Compete in FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
In previous years, the Club World Cup was limited to the winners of each confederation’s champion plus a representative from the host nation. While that probably would have kept Messi and his Inter Miami on the sidelines, this year’s tournament boasts an expanded 32-team field.
As the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield winner, Inter Miami earned a place in the 2025 Club World Cup as a host country representative. That, in turn, means Messi will be taking part in a FIFA tournament this summer, albeit one where he isn’t representing Argentina.
When Does Messi Play in the FIFA Club World Cup?
Messi and his Miami teammates were slotted into Group A, meaning their Club World Cup matches are as follows:
- Saturday, June 14 (8:00 p.m. Eastern) vs Al Ahly
- Thursday, June 19 (3:00 p.m. Eastern) vs FC Porto
- Monday, June 23 (9:00 p.m. Eastern) vs SE Palmeiras
Should the MLS club advance, the round of 16 starts on Saturday June 28. The quarterfinals take place on July 4 and 5, with the semis kicking off on July 8 and 9. The tournament will then conclude in New Jersey on Sunday, July 13.
It will remain to be seen exactly how large of a role Messi will play in those games—rest and rotation is always a possibility, especially when you consider this tournament is happening during the MLS season—but those are your potential windows to watch the legend.
What Has Lionel Messi Said About Retirement?
Part of what makes Messi’s presence at the Club World Cup appealing is that we won’t get many more chances to see him playing on the world stage. He’ll turn 38 this year and, given that he’s been playing senior soccer since 2004, the Argentine icon has plenty of miles on his metaphorical tires.
To be clear, there’s nothing that suggests retirement is an immediate possibility. Messi has previously spoken about hanging up his boots when he “can no longer perform, or no longer enjoy the game, or not [be] able to help [his] teammates,” which provides some wiggle room for making the decision and doesn’t tie things to a specific age. It’s also worth noting that he’s under contract through the end of the 2025 MLS season and talk of an extension is underway, according to Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas’ interview with ESPN.
Another piece of the retirement puzzle is the 2026 World Cup on the horizon. It’s reasonable to think that Messi would want a chance to play in the big tournament one last time and try and defend Argentina’s title.
He previously said that he would see how he felt physically before making a decision. If Messi is still playing, it’s almost impossible to imagine Argentina not calling him up.
Newsweek reached out for comment via Inter Miami regarding Messi’s potential timeline regarding World Cup and retirement decisions by email.
When Did Messi Join Inter Miami?
Given the time he spent in Barcelona, it can still be strange to see Messi wearing anything other than the Catalan club’s iconic red and blue stripes. At the same time, he’s not exactly new to Miami.
The Argentine attacker moved to Florida during the summer of 2023 after two seasons with PSG. After landing in North America, he took over as the club’s captain, boosted Inter Miami’s profile and, of course, recorded plenty of goals and assists.
When Is FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup begins on Saturday, June 14. Group play will go through June 26, with the Round of 16 kicking off on June 28.
The quarterfinals will be played on July 4 and 5, with the semifinals taking the spotlight on July 8 and 9. The grand finale will wrap up the tournament on July 13.
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