Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) has decided to take an extended break, contrary to rumors.
British media outlet BBC reported on Wednesday that Messi will now take time off. Messi, who has been working harder than ever, will be off the field for more than three months.
Inter Miami will play its final game of the 2023 season soon. After failing to qualify for the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs, Inter Miami will conclude its season with a trip to Charlotte on Sept. 22. With the next season kicking off in February of next year, Messi will have an unusually long break.
With a little more time to recharge his batteries, it has been reported that Messi could go on a short-term loan, with Europe and Saudi Arabia being the most likely destinations.
“Barcelona want to give Messi the chance to say goodbye properly,” said Spanish media outlet Sport. It could be a short-term loan in January,” and Saudi Arabia is also reportedly willing to spend big money to allow Messi to play for a while.
However, it seems likely that Messi will take the entire break without a short-term loan. In fact, Messi has gone more than a year without a break. He played a full season with Paris Saint-Germain in 2022-23, in between which he starred at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar at the end of last year.
After the season, he signed with Miami and played a string of U.S. Cup tournaments starting in the summer with no time to recharge. Along the way, Messi shined in the League Cup and US Open Cup.
Messi’s arrival has changed Miami forever. Before Messi’s arrival, Miami was considered one of the weakest teams in MLS. They were at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and had the fewest points compared to their Western counterparts.
But in mid-July, Messi’s arrival in the league led to some unexpected drama as Miami won its first title since its inception. Messi scored the game-winning free-kick against Cruz Azul on his debut and then went on a seven-game scoring drought to lead Miami to the top of the standings. With 10 goals in seven games, Messi won the title and was named the league’s top scorer and MVP.
Messi’s streak continued. In the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup, MLS’s version of the FA Cup, Messi had two assists to help Miami reach the final. After his short-lived cup dominance, Messi returned to MLS in September. While his streak of offensive points came to a halt against Nashville SC, Miami hasn’t lost a game since, thanks to the Messi effect.
Energized by Messi, Miami went on to win back-to-back games in the league, including a 3-1 win over LA FC and a 3-2 victory over Sporting KC. Before long, the team had taken over the Eastern Conference and was looking to climb up the playoff standings.
However, Messi’s fatigue level reached its peak and he was forced to sit out the final game with an injury. There were signs of trouble as early as last month’s A-match. After scoring a goal against Ecuador, he left the field in the 44th minute as a substitute. Messi, who prefers to play full time whenever possible, was benched during the match for the first time in nine years.토토사이트
“I’m tired,” Messi said. I’m tired, and I don’t think this will be the last time I’ll have to come off in the middle of a game,” he said, showing his age at 36. Lionel Scaloni, Argentina’s national team coach, said that “Messi himself asked to be substituted.” Messi ended up missing the second leg against Bolivia.
When he returned to Miami, he continued to miss league games. The three-month break will be crucial for Messi to get back to full fitness.
The most important thing on Messi’s schedule is the Ballon d’Or, which will be announced by France Football later this month. European soccer expert Fabrizio Romano recently said, “The key to Messi’s schedule is the Ballon d’Or ceremony on October 30. It’s a highly anticipated event for Messi,” perceiving him as a de facto winner.
The Ballon d’Or account also tweeted, “44%. We’re almost ready for the Ballon d’Or.” The slightly awkward 44% – not 10%, not 20%, not 40% – could be a reference to Messi winning his eighth Ballon d’Or. The truth is, there is no contender to beat Messi’s World Cup-winning performance.