Lionel Messi ‘eager, ready’ for MLS challenge with Inter Miami

 

Lionel Messi is eager and ready for Major League Soccer challenge with Inter Miami CF. The Argentine will move to the United States after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain is set to end on June 30.

After ruling European football for more than 15 years, Messi will play the fag end of his career with Inter Miami. It will be a new challenge for the talisman and he is all set to give his best.

“I’m well,” he told Argentinian TV Publica. “Initially, we had a different idea [to return to Barcelona].

“We’re happy with the decision we have taken. I’m ready and eager to face this new challenge, this change.”

Meanwhile, Messi had offers to return to Barcelona and also received a big offer from Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal but he decided to join Inter Miami. The veteran revealed he is happy with his decision to move to the United States and take a new route in his career.

“[The decision] was an important step but at the same time, I was aware of what it meant, of what I was doing,” Messi added. “We’re happy.”

On the other hand, last week Messi revealed he had no intentions to play in the 2026 World Cup for Argentina. In fact, after winning the 2022 World Cup, Messi had stated he wanted to continue playing as a World Cup champion for some time and retierated the same.

“If I’m being honest, had we not won the World Cup, I would no longer be playing for the national team,” Messi said. “I can’t leave the national team as a world champion. I want to enjoy this.”

Earlier, before winning the presitgious World Cup, Messi suffered some heartbreaking losses, including the 2014 World Cup final against Germany and Copa America losses.

“I didn’t cry but I suffered a lot,” Messi said of those lost finals. “I had very hard times, but I always had the desire to win something with the national team. I knew in my mind that I would achieve it.

“Even if I didn’t, I had to try. Having won everything at individual and club level, not to have been able to [win a major title] with the national team would have meant that I would be missing something.”

Messi had an unbelievable run in 2022 World Cup, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in Argentina’s successful campaign. Ergo, he was awarded Player of the tournament.

“I enjoyed the [Qatar] World Cup more than the previous ones because I knew it could be my last,” he said. “I had complete confidence in the group.”

Despite all the titles, goals and records, Messi would like to be remembered as a good guy.

“I want to be remembered as a good person, above all, more than the sporting side,” he said.