Lionel Messi's international career with Argentina has come to a close. The Rosario-born forward played the last of his 208 appearances in the sky blue and white stripes on an emotional Tuesday evening at a packed Estadio Monumental in Nuñez, on the north side of Buenos Aires.
Messi confirmed the moment himself in an Instagram post the following day. "This was my last game, and I already miss wearing the sky blue and white," he wrote. "I know I'm making the right decision. It was an incredible journey, full of joy and some sadness too, but I know every step I took was worth it."
Life Goes On at Inter Miami
While his Argentina career is finished, Messi isn't going anywhere as far as club football is concerned. He joined Inter Miami in July 2023, and in October 2025 he signed a new long-term deal that extends his stay through the 2028 season. At 39, that means he could still be lacing up in MLS at 41.
The contract reportedly carries unique commercial and ownership-related elements tied to both the club and MLS, building on the kind of innovative arrangement that brought him to Miami in the first place. Any formal ownership stake in the Herons hasn't been ruled out down the line, though nothing has been confirmed on that front.
A Growing Collection of Spanish Clubs
Away from Miami, Messi has already started building a footprint in Spanish football ownership. In March of this year, he took control of UE Cornella, a fifth-tier Spanish side. Then last month, he surprised the football world again by securing 100% of the shares at CD Eldense, a second-division club.
Whether this signals the start of a broader move into multi-club ownership remains unclear for now. What is certain is that even with his Argentina career behind him, Messi's footballing and business interests show no sign of slowing down.
